With the onset of South West monsoon, flooding in Goa with greater force is expected just like last year, right through July. Last year, June witnessed almost 90 inches of rainfall. All eyes must be focused on how Smart City of Panjim is prepared to tackle flooding with new drains being constructed along with the setting up of the new sewerage system along the many streets in the city. The flooding on June 23, reported at Patto, is a grim reminder of the shape of things to come.
On Sunday morning, despite a dry spell, the Patto area where most frequented offices and other commercial establishments are located, at high tide due to the ingress of water from the Ourem Creek through the storm water drains was flooded, which receded after four hours.
If such an occurrence can take place at the Nariman Point of Panjim, one can gauge what the situation will be in July as the month records 4 to 5 inches of rainfall.
Imagine a situation when there is a downpour exactly at the time of high tide during the day at which the water from River Mandovi is flushed back along the banks, flooding will definitely be a major issue.
Each year, people not only from Panjim, but across Goa, come for work as the offices are located in the city and expect the preparedness to tackle flooding to be better. However, year after year, the situation seems to be the same.
This year, thousands of crores of rupees were spent on the Smart City works, if there is a heavy downpour, Panjim will definitely be under the grip of large-scale flooding. Can any engineer suggest ways to reduce flooding for certain or are we on the brink of a dilemma that cannot be solved and that will remain a perennial hurdle to normal life in Panjim during rain?
It is high time that the authorities call the spade a spade and reveal to the people that the situation in the city will not get better. Amidst the occurrence of such a situation, it could be suggested that the daily weather bulletin that predicts the maximum and minimum temperature, rainfall in last 24 hours, high tide and low tide timings, humidity percentage along with the wind velocities as well as precise alerts be published in all the newspapers everyday so as to a certain extent make the people aware of the likelihood timings when flooding might be high in the city and thus at least they can get an alert as to when can stay away from the roads.
In the unlikely event that there will be no days on which 4 to 5 inches of rain daily, normal life may be possible. Elaborate daily weather bulletin could be a way of signalling the extent of flooding and thus guide people as to when to venture into the city for their work. It seems as if the newly laid drainage system in the city will not be much of a relief to Panjimites at least. In hindsight, flooding can only be prevented if the drainage system can drain all the rainwater simultaneously. This is a very remote possibility.