the goan I network
VASCO
MMC officials have, however, blamed the railway authority for blocking the traditional passage of rainwater leading to a nullah while laying new tracks and constructing a compound wall. Residents of police quarters allege that MMC had failed to clean the roadside drains and the outlets in front of the quarters before the monsoon. “We never used to face flooding in the past, as the drains were cleared much in advance. However, this year though the council managed to carry out pre-monsoon work in other parts of the city, it failed to clear the roadside drains in front of the quarters,” said a resident.
Rainwater also entered into the Mata Secondary School near MPT ground. The assembly hall and some classrooms on the ground floor were flooded due to the blockage of an outlet by the Railways.
MMC Chairperson Deepak Naik, Mormugao Deputy Collector Gaurish Shankwalkar and Mamlatdar Laxmikant Desai rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.
“When I reached the school, I alerted Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida, who immediately sent a JCB to to the spot to make way for the water to flow out,” Naik told The Goan.
“Mamlatdar Desai directed the Railways to clear the blockage. Two big holes were made in the railway compound wall to enable the water to flow outside.”
Blaming the Railways for the flooding of the school, Naik said: “While laying the new railway tracks and constructing the compound wall, the Railways blocked the traditional passage of the rainwater which used to lead to a nullah.”
We had cleared all roadside drains in the city. However, the Railways blocked the outlets due to which the roads were flooded with rainwater, he added.
Naik also blamed the Railways for blocking the passage of the drains.
Efforts to contact the railway station manager proved futile, as he was not available in office.
