the goan I network
MARGAO
There’s good news in store for River Sal “ once the lifeline of Salcete, which has been craving for attention over the years.
After years of neglect, the river may get a fresh lease of life if the Centre honours its promise to pump in a whopping Rs 200 crore for the desilting of the river, construction of the embankments, besides beautification all along the river course.
In fact, PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar on Friday announced that the Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has given his in-principle nod for the desilting of the river and the construction of the embankments at a cost of Rs 200 crore. “I am proud to state that Union Minister Nitin Gadkari at a meeting held last week, which was attended by PWD Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, has agreed to desilt the river Sal and construct the river banks. The desilting will not only contain flooding along the river banks, but will restore the river to its pristine glory,” Dhavalikar said.
Replying to a question, the PWD Minister said that estimates for the ambitious project will be carried out soon, while exuding confidence that work on the river desilting project will start after the monsoons. “River Sal will be the first river that will be taken up for desilting and construction of the embankment. This river was once the life line of Salcete. We have been told that small boats used to bring cargo right up to Khareband, but the river is now heavily silted, resulting in floods,” he said.
To another question, the PWD Minister said while the Centre has given the in-principle nod for the river Sal desilting, the promised money will come in after the preparation of the estimates.
He thanked the sarpanchas of the villages along the river Sal, which has been experiencing flooding, for supporting the project, saying that flooding will stop once the river is desilted along the course.
Benaulim MLA Churchill Alemao pointed out that flooding of the Benaulim and Seraulim villages will not stop even if the government build the bypass on stilts unless the entire river is desilted and the embankments strengthened. “Today, one can just walk across the river Sal from one end to another end as the river is heavily silted. I am confident that once desilted, flooding will stop completely,” he added.
