MARGAO
Various groups are working to create awareness amongst the villagers along the river course about the dangers posed by the discharge of sewage effluents into the river. While social activist Serafino Cota is urging the village panchayats along Salcete s coastal belt to join hands in order to save the river, as sewage water is almost touching the Varca-Benaulim course, the Shadow Council for Margao has decided to hold a dharna near the Margao wholesale fish Market at the River Sal portion on April 13 at 9am. The dharna is being held in protest against the waste of public funds in the guise of cleaning River Sal, while the pollution sources remain unattended. The Shadow Council proposes to highlight the fact to all the villages along the River Sal, as the cleaning work presently underway is an eyewash and total wastage of public funds, informed Shadow Council convenor, Savio Coutinho. He noted that the panchayats under whose jurisdiction the River Sal flows through, have issued NOCs for the cleaning, with genuine hopes that this “lifeline of Salcete” would regain it s lost glory. But sadly, very soon they will realise that the panchayats are taken for a jolly good ride, he added. Coutinho has called upon all concerned to join the dharna and support the cause for the meaningful development of River Sal. Meanwhile, Serafino Cota informed The Goan on Sunday that he is approaching the village panchayats along Salcete s coastal belt, seeking support for the restoration of River Sal to its pristine glory. “My drive has evoked an encouraging response from social groups and individuals. The time has come to draw the attention of the government to take up the de-silting of the entire river, starting from Verna. Piece meal de-silting work will not help the river in any way. This has been amply proved by the ongoing de-silting work carried out along the Khareband-Navelim-Telaulim stretch of the river, which has only resulting in sewage water flowing right down to Benaulim and Varca,” Cota rued.
