By Nandkumar M Kamat
Citizens in Panaji, Mapusa, Bicholim, Sankhali, Ponda and Margao need to be on alert as this year’s monsoon would cause unprecedented flooding. It’s a complete failure of urban planning. Those who reside in low-lying areas and close to any stream (eg Sarvona), creek (eg Moira, Bhatulem, Santa Inez, Fontainhas in Panaji) or river banks (Khareband, Comba, Colmorod, Mungul in Margao) need to take precautions in advance. Urbanised areas of Porvorim, Santa Cruz, Merces, Guirim, Parra, Paroda, Velim and many stretches of highways such as Guirim to Parra, Guirim to Mapusa, Chogm road at Porvorim would be flooded.
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The tipping point was reached when under the name of “beautification” or parking lots more open surfaces were covered. Most of the open surfaces in Panaji are now made totally impervious. So the rainwater stagnates on these surfaces. Jogging tracks and footpaths with interlocked tiles have created drainage problems. Most of open spaces and setback areas in Panaji have been now covered by concrete or bitumen. Roadside drains are not maintained. Often the workers de-silt the drains, pile the mud outside which finds its way back in drain. The road construction work in entire low-lying and densely populated Salcete has been undertaken without understanding the hydrography of Zuari and Sal rivers.
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Government and health authorities have not understood consequences of flooding in urbanised areas when sewerage lines overflow and dangerous bacteria and viruses from sewage gets mixed with stagnated rainwater. Pedestrians forced to walk in flooded urbanised areas get leptospirosis. Urban flooding is followed by rise in gastrointestinal diseases. The underground water distribution network in urban areas is contaminated with floodwater. Merely pumping more Chlorine doesn’t ensure disease prevention. So people need to be on alert with their drinking water quality in flooded areas.
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