PANAJI
Several measures such as clearing nullahs and stormwater drains have been carried out across the jurisdiction of the Ponda Municipal Council.
The civic body had even deployed additional manpower on a daily wage basis to speed up the pre-monsoon work, according to Ponda Municipal Chairperson, Anand Naik.
Yet, there is no guarantee that residents and commuters will be hassle-free during the monsoon owing to the town's topography, surrounded as it is by hills and mountainous terrain.
Nonetheless, in the days since the cyclonic winds and heavy rains lashed Goa from Tuesday onwards, the town has fared fairly satisfactorily in terms of rainwater disposal and water-logging, especially around the old bus stand, being resolved, according to some residents.
Meanwhile, the State Disaster Management Authority, which has activated emergency control rooms for both North and South Goa districts, has released specific numbers for Ponda, including 24/7 helplines for citizens in distress during the monsoon.
KTC underpass a concern
Of concern, however, is the non-completion of the KTC under-pass located near the Safa Masjid, which is part of the larger project of widening the national highway between Shapur and Bhoma. The construction was delayed due to the gas pipeline which needed to be shifted. The nearly Rs 100-crore project, however, is "nearing completion", including both the approach roads.
