PANAJI
The onset of the monsoon, although predicted to be delayed, is around the corner, and the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) has wrapped up multiple rounds of clearing nullahs, drains, and gutters across the city, including the slopes of Altinho hill.
Teams of workers, each under a 'supervisor', have been working across vulnerable stretches of the city to remove silt, debris, and blockages.
Officials confirmed that desilting has been completed in key stormwater channels, including those flowing into the Mala Lake and the St Inez Creek at Campal, where waterlogging has often disrupted daily life during the peak monsoon period.
Mayor Rohit Monserrate, in a recent post, highlighted on-ground inspections carried out with ward councillors and Water Resources Department (WRD) officials. His 'inspection' visits focused on drainage management, upkeep of public spaces, and long-term restoration measures.
“Continued monitoring and coordinated civic efforts remain essential in strengthening public infrastructure and maintaining safer, better-managed neighbourhood spaces,” Monserrate said in one of his recent posts on social media.
The mayor has also repeatedly stressed accountability and inter-departmental coordination and directed officials to align all works with strict timelines at a review meeting last week, where a structured framework was introduced -- priorities set on Mondays and review of progress on Fridays.
Commissioner Clen Madeira and a group of senior CCP officials are monitoring the execution of the work to ensure quality standards, a CCP official said.
Panaji has historically faced recurring flooding during past monsoons, mostly due to clogged drains and the disruption of the natural stormwater flow from the Altinho hill slopes into the Mandovi river during high tides.
The CCP’s leadership is confident that its pre-monsoon drive will prove crucial in managing the city's flooding issues. Residents, however, remain cautiously watchful over the persistent neglect of the city’s stressed water bodies.
