Ribandar sees major flood prevention success following cross drains improvement
Ribandar is now reaping the benefits of an ambitious infrastructure project designed to resolve longstanding drainage and flooding problems. The completion of extensive cross drains and storm water management improvements from Ribandar Patto Circle to Vithal Mandir has brought a significant boost to the area’s resilience against monsoon floods. The project, involved desilting, repairing and upgrading 19 cross drains, the distance
between each cross drain being approximately 145m, spanning a road stretch of 2.7 km, along with new drains, ensures that the drainage system can efficiently handle even heavy rainfall.
Key Project Components:
- Thorough Desilting and Cleaning of Drains: Over time, sediment build-up had severely reduced the efficiency of storm water drains. The desilting process has restored free water flow, mitigating the risk of waterlogging during peak monsoon seasons. This essential maintenance has revitalized a system that was once a major cause of flooding in Ribandar.
- Building new cross drains & repairing existing drains: The project focused on repairing and refurbishing damaged cross drains while adding new drains where required. These updates have enhanced the system’s capacity to manage storm water, significantly reducing the likelihood of flooding.
The data outlines the status and improvements made to drainage systems across various locations, focusing on desilting, refurbishing and upgrading drains to enhance water flow and prevent flooding. Notably, new drains were installed at Ribandar Patto circle and near the Health Centre, where there were previously no drains. These installations, with significant cross-sections of 800 x 1100 mm and 500 x 650 mm respectively, provide much- needed drainage capacity in these areas.
Several locations saw substantial upgrades in their drain cross-sections. For instance, the drainage system Ahead Ribandar First Ferry Point was upgraded from 500 x 400 mm to 500 x 900 mm, and Ahead Casinha Ribandar Fondvem from 600 x 700 mm to 600 x 1100 mm, effectively doubling their capacity. This increase in size enhances the ability to handle larger water volumes, especially during heavy rainfall.
In some areas, the drains were desilted and refurbished without changing their dimensions, such as Ribandar First Ferry and Before Badminton Court, indicating that the existing infrastructure was sufficient but needed
cleaning to restore efficiency. However, in high-risk areas like Before Vithal Mandir Y Junction, the drain cross-section was significantly expanded from 300 x 650 mm to 1300 x 650 mm to address potential flooding risks. Similarly, locations like Near Ajuda Medical Store and At Dengoa Football Court saw considerable increases in drainage capacity, nearly doubling in size to better manage stormwater.
This balance between upgrading and refurbishing reflects a strategic approach tailored to each location’s specific needs. The targeted upgrades in capacity and the restoration of existing drains are likely to improve Ribandars overall drainage infrastructure, reducing the risk of flooding and enhancing water management during periods of heavy rainfall.
This project has achieved significant improvements in Ribandars drainage infrastructure. By cleaning and restoring all 19 cross drains, the drainage system’s efficiency has been greatly enhanced, allowing it to handle larger volumes of water and preventing blockages during heavy rains. This, in turn, has reduced the risk of flooding, ensuring that streets remain accessible and safer for residents and commuters.
IPSCDL has reiterated that it is conscious of the fact that the residents of Ribandar have faced a lot of hardships due to flooding and has assured its residents that it will take all initiatives and leave no stone unturned to solve the problem.
