Vikramaditya
Port Blair, June 7: Once again, a major area of Mohanpura found itself submerged in rainwater due to waterlogging after heavy rainfall today. Despite efforts made by the Port Blair Municipal Council, the issue of waterlogging continues to plague the area almost every year, raising concerns about the city’s transformation into a smart city.
The Port Blair Municipal Council and the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, have been making plans to convert Port Blair into a smart city. However, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Following heavy rainfall and high tide, the entire Mohanpura area gets inundated with water.
The water, originating from rainwater accumulation and the rising sea levels during high tide, floods crucial areas such as the Mohanpura bus stand, Mohanpura market, and Light House Junction. This not only disrupts traffic but also causes immense inconvenience to the public.
Shopkeepers in the Mohanpura market area bear the brunt of these flood-like situations, suffering significant losses. Furthermore, the bus terminus of Port Blair city becomes submerged, rendering the operation of State Transport Service (STS) buses impossible. This recurring problem inconveniences passengers and highlights the inadequacies of the administration in addressing such a seemingly simple issue.
While dredging has been carried out in some major nallahs of Port Blair city on time, no solution has been found for the persistent problem in the Mohanpura area. This issue sends a negative message to visiting tourists and raises concerns among local residents about the mighty administration’s ability to tackle this recurring problem. In light of this, it is imperative for the administration to establish a high-level committee comprising engineers to urgently find a solution. Heavy rainfall and high tide occur every year, exacerbating the problem and necessitating immediate action.
