River Sal, for generations, has been an arterial water stream running through Salcete’s landscape, quietly sustaining lives and feeding the ecosystems, supporting livelihoods, and shaping its culture. But today, this lifeline is in deep trouble. Recent findings from the Central Pollution Control Board paint a worrying picture.
In the past few years, the condition of River Sal has sharply worsened. It is now considered critically polluted, a stark and unsettling shift that can’t be overlooked anymore. Household sewage and hotel waste are directly dumped into the river, chemical effluents have contaminated the water, and there is plastic waste and construction debris, and there is a thick layer of water hyacinth that reduces the flow of water.
According to the latest data, the number of polluted river stretches in Goa has dropped significantly from 11 in 2018 to just two between 2018 and 2023. However, the downside is that River Sal has gone into the “critically polluted” category. Earlier classified under Criteria IV, with biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) levels between 6–10 mg/L, River Sal now records BOD levels exceeding 20 mg/L.
The numbers tell part of the story, but the reality on the ground is even more troubling. Pollution levels in the river have shot up dramatically, pointing to heavy contamination from the release of untreated sewage. The biggest problem for Goa currently is sewage, sewage treatment plants, connectivity and water bodies being used as release points. On Monday, Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz submitted a memorandum to the Goa State Pollution Control Board with a plea to plug the discharge of raw sewage from Margao in River Sal. The memo points to several points where sewage is channeled into the river, including one near the South Goa District Hospital and mentions that the pollution of the river is posing serious health risks to residents and aquatic life.
While there are notable improvements with the underground sewage system, with major parts of Fatorda now being connected, what is baffling is the failure to plug the gaps that contribute largely to the River Sal’s pollution. The vulnerable areas have been identified and discussed, but action has not been forthcoming. Illegal discharges haven’t been fully stopped, and enforcement still seems too slow to match the urgency of the situation. Lack of coordination between the Industrial Development Corporation, the sewage board, and local panchayats has been hindering comprehensive action.
The frustration on the ground is growing. Some local representatives have even threatened to block the drains carrying sewage into the river—an extreme step, but one that reflects how desperate the situation feels to those living with it every day. Beyond the environmental cost, the pollution is also affecting tourism, a key part of Goa’s economy, as once-safe waters become unsafe for bathing and recreation.
What’s clear is that small, scattered fixes won’t be enough. Experts have called for a broader, more coordinated effort, one that tackles the problem at its source, improves waste management systems, and involves communities in protecting their rivers. River Sal’s decline is a warning sign. Goa’s rivers are not just water bodies; they are part of its identity. Protecting them will take more than plans and promises; it will require urgency, accountability, and collective action. The longer the delay, the harder it will be to undo the damage.
