Panaji: The Corporation of the City of Panaji will soon clean and desilt drains to tackle waterlogging in the city, mayor Rohit Monserrate said on Monday. He said that sewerage works may have affected two stormwater drains, which will be reopened and cleaned shortly.On the perennial problem of flooding at the Patto complex, Rohit said that a proposal to improve the drainage network and dewatering technology was rejected by the finance department.“To tackle flooding at the Patto complex, the road levels, the paver blocks, footpaths, the drains, everything was supposed to be redone in that file. The file was returned by the finance department. We are trying to resubmit the file. The work is worth Rs 10 crore – Rs 15 crore. If it is approved we can get it done now,” he said.The mayor attributed the waterlogging along 18th June Road to a combination of high tide and heavy rain.“During high tide, our inlet itself is blocked and I cannot do anything about that. When I went for inspection, they told me that opposite the police headquarters, the sewerage department has built three chambers and the chambers have encroached on our drain. Now we are opening up that road to check if there is any damage to our drains. Once we check that, then everything should be ok,” said Rohit.He said that the waterlogging around Rego Bar would require the full road to be dug up, which will not be possible during this monsoon. The mayor said that the priority is to ensure that shopkeepers along 18th June Road don’t suffer again.“If there is encroachment on the drains, then we will have to rebuild that portion of the drain. I have told my staff to start working on that. They will break open that section of the road on Tuesday and if it is encroached, then we will open it and clear it. That’s maybe why the flow rate might have reduced,” said Rohit.He said that Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd (IPSCDL) plans to create new storm water drains along 18th June Road, A B Road and Dr Pandurang Pissurlekar Road with the work slated to start in Sep.Asked if he plans to contest the coming assembly elections from St Cruz, Rohit said, “Not at all.”“I would like to contest from Taleigao because it is my mother’s seat. I want to continue that legacy and she has started a lot of works in this constituency. Whatever work she could not complete, I want to finish. Ultimately the party is the highest and if they say I have to contest from St Cruz, then I will have to live by that decision,” the mayor said.
