Bicholim locals raise flood, drainage concerns

Bicholim: Bicholim residents have urged the water resources department (WRD) to undertake the cutting of grown-up bushes and trimming of trees along the left side of the Bicholim “Aark” rivulet to avoid flooding during the monsoon.Aark rivulet is the main flooding point in Bicholim during the monsoon. People fear that these bushes and trees, left neglected, may cause flooding as falling dry waste in the rivulet may obstruct the natural flow of water.“If the proper care is taken by cutting bushes and trimming trees, then this area can become a good recreational spot in the heart of the Bicholim town,” said Subhash Usapkar, a local. The residents from this area have therefore urged the WRD authorities to look into the matter.Residents also urged the Bicholim Municipal Council (BMC) to undertake urgent repair work on the dilapidated drainage near the Goa State Cooperative Bank.Residents said that cement slabs over the gutter have broken, causing foul stench and endangering pedestrians at night. Locals have urged BMC authorities to carry out repairs at the earliest.