VASCO
While residents accused the MMC of failing to take up pre-monsoon works in the area, MMC Chairperson Deepak Naik has insisted that the main gutter at Baina had been cleaned and blamed people for blocking the drain with plastic and other waste.
The heavy showers that lashed in the morning led to overflowing of the main drainage along the road near Imli Ka Ped at Baina, while the road near police quarters at Vasco was flooded with rainwater as the drains were clogged. Flooding at Baina inconvenienced schoolchildren, parents and the general public, who had to struggle through the dirty water, while also causing problems for vehicles near the police quarters at Vasco.
Fatima Shaik, who had gone to reach her child to school at Baina, said the council had failed to take up pre-monsoon works this year. “The council talks about ‘Swacch Bharat’, but has failed to clean the gutters before the monsoon,” said Shaik. Another parent, Francis D’Souza said: “The council has done nothing to maintain cleanliness of the city. Our children have to wade through the dirty water that is flowing from the gutters, as the council has failed to take up pre-monsoon works.”
The MMC chairperson clarified that the council had carried out cleaning of the gutters at Baina. “Gutter water began overflowing on the road due to heavy showers, muck and other plastic which people throw in the drain. People should also dispose of their waste and garbage properly, and instead of throwing them in the gutter they should hand it over to the garbage collector,” said Naik.
“Oil companies have blocked the major gutter, which passes through the area near police quarters at Vasco. This gutter leads to the sea and during rains, rainwater flows into the sea through these gutters. I will write to both the oil companies and direct them to open the drains, so that rainwater find its way into the sea,” added Naik.
