Urban flooding in the state capital could become increasingly severe unless Panaji's drainage infrastructure is redesigned to account for changing rainfall patterns, a new peer-reviewed study has warned. The study found a significant rise in September rainfall over the past five decades, raising concerns that drainage systems designed using historical rainfall records may no longer be adequate under changing climate conditions. Decadal analysis showed annual average rainfall increasing from 2,578 mm during 1984-1993 to 3,135 mm during 2014-2023.The findings underline the need for climate resilient drainage planning and infrastructure upgrades to tackle the growing risk of waterlogging and urban flooding in Panaji. The sarkar has already spent a humungous Rs 1,052 crore to turn Panaji into a smart city, yet the same problems of water logging, poor drainage, blocked chambers, sinking roads, backflow from sewers etc. which existed 8 years back persist.This is literally money down the drain and by the looks of it things are not going to improve even a 100 years from now.
VINAY DWIVEDI, Benaulim
