MAPUSA
With the monsoon at the doorstep, residents across flood-prone areas in Bardez remain apprehensive over whether the government’s annual pre-monsoon works will be enough to avert a repeat of past disasters.
The fear is particularly strong at Usapkar junction in Khorlim, Mapusa, where last year a dramatic video of a scooter rider being swept away by strong rainwater currents during a heavy downpour went viral nationwide.
The incident exposed the vulnerability of the busy junction, which routinely turns into a virtual pool whenever intense rain lashes the area.
Despite the scare and subsequent public outcry, locals allege that little has changed on the ground beyond routine desilting and patchwork maintenance. Residents point out that during heavy rains, water gushes down from the surrounding hills and accumulates rapidly at the junction, disrupting traffic movement and endangering commuters.
“A nullah in the area has been partly constructed and the work is still incomplete even though monsoon is around the corner. There are also illegal structures and encroachments blocking the natural flow of rainwater, but these have still not been removed,” said Khorlim resident Mahesh Rane.
While authorities have cleaned and desilted the main nullahs in the area, questions remain over whether the measures will be sufficient to handle another season of extreme rainfall.
Guirim residents pin hopes on river desilting
Another major flood-prone zone is Guirim in Saligao constituency, where low-lying fields and roads get submerged during heavy rain. Residents of St Anthony Vaddo in Guirim are among the worst affected, with floodwaters often entering homes and cutting off access roads for days.
The State government has undertaken desilting work of the Mapusa river, part of which has already been completed. The project, along with reconstruction of bundhs, is expected to improve the channelisation of excess rainwater into the river system.
Saligao MLA Kedar Naik expressed optimism that the measures would significantly reduce flooding this year.
“The desilting of the Mapusa river and reconstruction of the bundh will help channelise excess rainwater more effectively. We expect this monsoon to be much smoother, with flooding controlled in a better way,” Naik said.
Tillari dam discharge raises flood concerns
Further north villages in Tivim and Bicholim constituencies face a different challenge.
Flooding there is often linked to the release of water from the Tillari dam during periods of heavy inflow. If the discharge coincides with high tide, the Chapora river swells rapidly, causing water to enter riverside homes.
Though no major flooding was reported in the area last year, earlier incidents had left several houses submerged.
Locals say better coordination and timely alerts are crucial. Gradual release of dam water during low tide could minimise flooding risks, they say, while advance warnings would help residents prepare or evacuate if necessary.
As climate variability increases and rainfall patterns grow more intense, residents across Bardez believe long-term flood mitigation, removal of encroachments and improved drainage infrastructure will be critical to preventing recurring monsoon disasters.
