MARGAO
In an interesting development, Captain of Ports James Braganza on Monday said that his department need not obtain NOC from the panchayat bodies to take up the river Sal desilting work as per a communique from the Director of Panchayats.
He, however, said his department will take up the work of desilting of the River Sal only after a high-level meeting is held with the stakeholders.
Speaking his mind for the first time after the presence of the dredger in the river kicked up a storm, Capt Braganza conceded that his department had initially sought NOCs from the panchayat bodies along the course of the Sal.
He, however, said the department decided to dispense with the NOCs as per a communique from the Director of Panchayats stating that it is not mandatory for the CoP to seek NOC from the local bodies.
Capt Braganza informed that since there’s been opposition to the desilting work from the Telaulim-Varca new bridge towards downstream at a distance of six kms, a high-level meeting will be convened soon to discuss and allay the apprehensions raised by the villagers and the traditional fishermen.
“I fail to understand why there’s sudden opposition to the work of river Sal desilting work when the Captain of Ports had executed similar work along the Khareband-Telaulim bridge last time. The work of desilting is part of the river rejuvenation work being executed by
the department,” Capt Braganza added.
Capt Braganza’s statement on the NOC issue assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of the fact that the he had in March 2019 sought NOCs from as many as 10 village panchayats from Salcete for the desilting of the river Sal.
However, to the shock and surprise of the village panchayat bodies, the Captain of Ports went ahead with the desilting work without the NOCs from the panchayats, only raising questions whether the government had decided to bulldoze its way with the project sans the NOCs.
While the dredger is presently lying anchored in the river Sal along the course in Chinchinim village, the contractor Vaibhavi Dredging has not commenced work with the local panchayat body strongly opposing the work and fears being raised in many quarters over law and order situation.
