Gutters or drainage conduits, constructed at the side of the roads and running parallel to the footpaths, collect and channelise the rain and waste waters into the storm drain. The problem is that the dimensions of the gutters in terms of their width and depth are not uniform, and most times are not closed with concrete slabs. These issues are common in every State, including in Goa. Due to the non-uniformity sizes of the gutters it becomes difficult to judge the height of the footpath when we step onto or from the road. During monsoon, people inadvertently get their legs trapped in the open gutters as they are unaware of the gutters’ depth and distance from the footpath.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and Central Road Research Institute need to have norms to construct gutters of standardised dimensions and see that the States implement the same. It should be mandatory to cover the gutters with concrete lids with medium size openings for percolation of water. The lids are necessary for people’s safety and prevent accumulation of garbage (especially plastic bottles and wrappings) that would chock the gutters during monsoon and lead to flooding. At a distance of say 5 metres, there could be removable covers for pre-monsoon cleaning of the gutters. Perhaps as a part of Smart City, the above suggestions could be commenced in Panaji.
