Rainwater on the desks and chairs in the library at the Ravindra Bhavan in Canacona.
CANACONA
After being inaugurated amid much fanfare nine months ago, Canacona’s prestigious Ravindra Bhavan turned into a pool of water as pre-monsoon rains flooded the taluka library and damaged several books and items of furniture.
A Konkani Tiatr ‘Mhojjem Poilem Ghor’ by Seby De Divar, scheduled for Tuesday evening, was cancelled by organisers on account of the incident.
Rainwater began to leak into the taluka library on the first floor of the Ravindra Bhavan complex, which is located at the rear end of the main auditorium hall, at about 10.30 am, when pre-monsoon showers lashed Canacona taluka.
Library staff were in for a shock as rainwater began seeping from the roof and onto the cupboards, racks, tables and the floor, with water even flowing down the steps below the corridors.
Staff worked hard to salvage and protect the books from coming into contact with rainwater.
Workers tried to clear the accumulated water with the help of a mop, but were unable to do much given the amount of rainwater entering the library.
Fearing the possibility of a short circuit in the newly built Ravindra Bhavan, as the water was leaking and accumulating everywhere, calls were made to the Fire and Emergency Services and the Electricity Department.
A fire brigade rushed to the site and linesmen shut off the power supply until the rainwater receded.
Later, firefighters went onto the roof trying to figure out the source of the leakage, but could not do much. Later, they assisted the library staff to salvage the library books, computers and accessories, besides tables and chairs.
A Konkani Tiatr ‘Mhojjem Poilem Ghor’ by Seby De Divar, scheduled for Tuesday evening, was cancelled by organisers for fear of an untoward incident, as the show was fully booked.
As news of the flooding of the library spread like wildfire, social workers, councillors and local leaders rushed to the site to obtain first-hand information about the incident.
Many demanded the filing of criminal charges against those responsible for the substandard works leading to flooding with the first rains. Some also demanded a structural integrity test on the Canacona Ravindra Bhavan by a non-government entity as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety.
GFP Environmental Cell Chairman Vikas Bhagat said, “First, it was Kala Academy. Now, it’s the newly inaugurated library at Ravindra Bhavan, Canacona, completely flooded after just one shower! This is not a natural disaster, but a man-made embarrassment that exposes the utter incompetence of the Art and Culture Department.”
“This complex took 15 years to come up and in a matter of minutes, water washed away the government’s tall claims. Public money has been wasted. People’s patience has been insulted. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant should visit the Canacona Ravindra Bhavan and explain to the people how a newly built cultural institution is already crumbling,” said Bhagat.
Canacona Councillor Shubhab Komarpant blamed the authorities for commissioning the Ravindra Bhavan complex even before it was fully completed.
Canacona Councillor and ex-CMC Chairperson Ramakant Naik Gaunkar demanded that the government take strict action against the contractor for the leakage.
