PANAJI
With four teams working round the clock, the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) has geared up for the forthcoming monsoons.“Around 60-70 percent of pre-monsoon maintenance work has been completed in all wards. We are hopeful there will be less flooding in the Capital city during monsoon. The desilting work and pruning of trees is going on with four teams which cover 1-2 wards per day according to requirement," said Deputy Mayor Sanjiv Naik.
The desilting of the Mala Lake reservoir has been carried out by the Water Resources Department under funding from IPSCDL, with personal monitoring by Panaji MLA Atanasio (Babush) Monserrate.
The CCP will make available two water pumps of 200 HP capacity, while around 2,700 street light poles in Panaji City will be replaced through the funding of the IPSCDL.
Sanjiv Naik said special teams will monitor and remove the plastic and other material that chokes the drains during the rain.
Former Mayor Uday Madkaikar and Deputy Mayor Vasant Agashikar recollected how they used the high tide timing and meteorological rain forecast to prepare a timetable for teams to monitor the drains in those hours.
The 18th June Road, Menezes Braganza hall area, Miramar, Fidalgo area and Mala are some areas where flooding takes place during heavy rains.
"As Panaji is along the sea level, flooding during high tide combined with heavy rain is inevitable. However, the water recedes within 30 minutes. We have to ensure that drains are not choked otherwise the problem aggravates,” said Agashikar.
Madkaikar suggested the repair of Portuguese-era drains but admitted this would involve more budget.
“The drain from Kala Academy to Miramar Circle needs to be widened. This work is planned under the Panaji Smart City but will be taken next year,” said Madkaikar.
Madkaikar said cables are frequently taken through readymade drains which creates problems and needs to be checked regularly.
