MARGAO
The busy Margao-Quepem road at Paroda village was submerged under water since Thursday morning, even as the rising water inundated the low-lying areas of the village following incessant overnight rains. Locals blamed the authorities for the half-hearted work undertaken to raise the level of the road.
Leader of Opposition, Yuri Alemao along with Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa visited the village to take stock of the situation.
After inspecting the flooded area of Paroda, Yuri directed officials to prioritise public safety and take comprehensive measures. “This longstanding issue demands immediate attention. Despite my repeated efforts to raise this concern in Assembly sessions, the government’s inaction is concerning. WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar had assured desilting of the river, but it remains unaddressed,” he said, even as he urged the government to prioritise this issue and provide relief to the people of Paroda and others affected.
Quepem MLA Altone told the media that the government should rope in the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) to conduct a study on the desilting of a km long stretch of the Kushavati river to prevent flooding at Paroda. He also demanded that the government explore the possibility of raising the height of the entire Paroda road to prevent the perennial flooding witnessed every monsoons.
As the flood level rose dangerously early Thursday morning, submerging the Paroda road and disrupting traffic on the Margao-Quepem route, the authorities later shut traffic by erecting barricades on the road. Traffic on the Margao-Quepem road was later diverted via Chandor.
