MAPUSA
The recent pre-monsoon showers in Mapusa didn’t just flood the town – they exposed a glaring administrative failure and a breakdown in civic responsibility.
What transpired during the heavy downpour on May 20 was not merely the result of unexpected weather but a damning reflection of how the Mapusa Municipal Council and the local leadership were grossly underprepared, despite ample warning and time.
The rainfall in Mapusa – 121 mm in a single day – was intense, but not unprecedented. It wasn’t even the official start of the monsoon, but a pre-monsoon spell triggered by cyclonic activity in the Bay of Bengal.
Yet, the consequences were catastrophic. Roads turned into rivers, homes and shops were waterlogged, and critical infrastructure such as the government complex and Bardez Bazaar were rendered inaccessible. These outcomes point squarely to poor pre-monsoon planning and a lack of disaster preparedness.
Drainage work – Too little, too late
The Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) claims that desilting operations began a month earlier, in April, and that two rounds had been completed, with a third pending.
However, the chaos on May 20 revealed a different reality. Drains overflowed, nullahs choked, and plastic waste covered the town – a clear sign that either the desilting was insufficient or simply not done at all.
Eyewitnesses and viral videos of streets turning into torrents – with one showing a two-wheeler being swept away – underscore the severity of the neglect.
Moreover, major nullahs under the jurisdiction of the Water Resources Department reportedly remained uncleared. The lack of coordination between agencies further intensified the crisis.
Adding to the turmoil was the Public Works Department’s ongoing infrastructure work.
Roads were dug up to lay utility pipelines, but were left open, turning rainwater drainage into an impossibility.
With no foresight and no emergency protocols, the town was brought to its knees by the very projects meant to modernise it.
Allegations of corruption, administrative complicity
Behind the scenes, troubling allegations have surfaced. A sitting councillor, speaking anonymously, accused senior civic officials of deliberately delaying drain-cleaning tenders to create a rush job – allowing for inflated bills and shoddy work.
“There’s a method to the madness,” the councillor claimed, alleging that the clearing operations only scratched the surface, leaving debris to be washed away by the first rains – an act designed to mask poor workmanship and facilitate corruption.
Leadership missing in action
Local leadership has offered little solace. While Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza claimed he held pre-monsoon coordination meetings, it’s evident that these discussions failed to result in any actionable steps.
MMC Chairperson Priya Mishal refused to take responsibility, blaming the chaos on “uncertain rain,” and claiming that 60 per cent of desilting was done. Her defensive stance only further alienated the already frustrated public.
When leaders deny accountability and deflect criticism, governance suffers. Mishal’s refusal to accept institutional failure reflects poorly on the overall credibility of the civic body.
Public outrage and political fallout
The backlash was swift and fierce. Social media erupted with criticism of the local leadership.
Former chairperson and BJP leader Sandeep Falari condemned the administration’s failure as “Ram Bharose” governance – a complete abdication of duty.
Another ex-chairperson, Ryan Braganza, castigated both the local MLA and officials, questioning the logic of conducting review meetings only after the damage was done.
The general sentiment was clear: Mapusa had been betrayed by those entrusted with its care.
Warning and a wake-up call
What happened in Mapusa is a cautionary tale of what occurs when political complacency, administrative inefficiency and questionable ethics converge.
It wasn’t nature that failed Mapusa – it was leadership.
The town's infrastructure crumbled not under the weight of monsoon rain, but under the weight of neglect and mismanagement.
With the full force of the monsoon yet to arrive, one hopes this debacle will finally push the authorities into real action.
Because if pre-monsoon rains can paralyse a town, what awaits Mapusa when the true monsoon begins?
