Last year’s monsoon brought grim reminders of widespread flooding and the uprooting and falling of trees across Goa, with newspapers carrying numerous photographs of the damage. With less than a month left before the onset of this year’s monsoon, it is essential that preventive measures be taken on an emergency basis across the state. To tackle flooding, the Corporation, Municipal Councils, and Panchayats must immediately undertake large-scale cleaning of drains in towns and villages. Local residents, who are familiar with flood-prone areas and drainage problems, should also be involved in identifying measures to improve water flow and prevent flooding. As regards falling trees, the expertise of the Forest Department and the Department of Botany at Goa University should be utilised to minimise damage. Trees with deep taproots, which are more stable, can be identified and preserved, while those with weaker adventitious root systems may be selectively removed to reduce the risk of uprooting. Trees leaning dangerously over houses should also be cut to prevent loss of life and property. Even if these measures help reduce flooding and tree falls by twenty per cent, it would still be a worthwhile and successful effort.
