The incessant rains for over a month have put the life of Goans out of order with the government forced to declare a holiday to schools on two occasions within a gap of just a week this month. Torrential rains have disrupted normal life and brought along devastation across the State. Lives have been lost and huge damage to property has been reported. Fields, plantations as well as neighbourhoods are flooded and in some places continue to remain inundated.
Landslides have been reported along the national highways, with the protection wall giving way, that lead traffic across the borders from Goa. On Monday, a landslide and collapse of a retaining wall has been reported at Chorla Ghat posing a serious threat to transportation and commute across the Goa-Karnataka border. Earlier landslides have been reported on the NH 66 at Naibagh in Poroscodem, Pernem. Here the contractors of the under-construction highway has come under massive criticism for the quality of work. The landslide brought down the protection wall which was constructed recently and brought traffic on the route to a standstill. Luckily no loss of life was reported.
On the other hand, trees have uprooted and damaged numerous houses. The incessant rains has led to walls of houses collapsing. A mother-son duo in Neura, Tiswadi, died in a tragic incident when the wall of the house collapsed and the two were buried under the debris. According to the local MLA, another wall of the house had collapsed last year and the family had applied for government support to repair the house. The MLA has alleged that the financial help never came and another wall collapsed taking away the life of the 70-year-old mother and her 50-year-old son.
Looking at the response and the increasing number of cases, anyone who is new to the State would wonder if Goa is witnessing all this for the first time. Being a coastal State and blessed with one of the most rich natural biodiversity landscapes in the world, it is quite natural that Goa is bound to receive abundant rain. Despite institutes of international repute situated in the State and which have been researching on various aspects related to climate and Goa’s landscape, the government seems lost in drawing up a comprehensive plan to keep Goans safe.
Take a look at the capital city Panjim and the surrounding areas. Since the last eight years the Centre and State as a double engine are in the process of transforming Panjim into a Smart City. The poor planning and shoddy execution has been on public display over the years and the quality of the work is evident from the fact that roads have had to be dug again and recarpeted. Even the submissions to the High Court have not been adhered to and there is so much more to be done, before what was planned can be completed of the Smart City. Precious lives have been lost in the process.
Talking about roads, right from the Panjim KTC Bus Stand to across the city and beyond - including Taleigao, Dona Paula, Ribandar, Santa Cruz, Merces and Bambolim, it will be extremely difficult to find a road without potholes. It is unfortunate that the local MLA in a proverbial defence said that it has to rain for one to witness a rainbow. But perhaps he didn’t realise that the aftermath of storms isn’t a rainbow but a disaster, which can only be avoided by engaging in robust planning to mitigate the problems.
That is precisely what seems missing with the administration in Goa. From the State government to the local self-governing bodies, the panchayats and municipalities, none of them seem to have a clue of what the people of the State are facing. Cyclonic shelter homes have been constructed, but what purpose do they serve if they cannot be used during such testing times? The Goa State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA), after more than a month of incessant rain, has begun disseminating messages related to weather warnings. One can only say, ‘Better late than never’.
However, the elected representatives and those who proudly carry the tag of being ‘public servants’ need to reflect on their duties towards the people. Yet another year of failures of the government and its agencies at all levels are on full display. What emboldens such carefree behaviour is the lack of accountability. None of the officials involved in any of the ill-planned and badly executed works have been made accountable and brought to justice, let alone being held accountable for failing to plan. In a democracy, there cannot be welfare of the people without accountability of those who possess power.