MARGAO
Desilting of the river Sal as part of the river rejuvenation plan has thrown up a problem of sorts along the Assolna-Chinchinim stretch of the river.
A joint inspection of the river has brought to light that silt removed from the ongoing exercise is dumped along the river course, raising fears of flooding and encroachment of mangroves into the river.
Fishermen too have expressed their apprehensions that if the silt is not lifted away, it may hamper navigation, throwing serious questions on the efficacy of the ongoing desilting work.
Wednesday saw a joint inspection of Sal at the Assolna-Ambelim stretch and later at the Durga-Chinchinim by officials of the Captain of Ports, Forests, Velim MLA Cruz Silva and fishermen unearthing tonnes of silt dumped along the river course by the contractor.
The inspection was arranged by the Velim MLA after fishermen and villagers drew his attention to the dumping of silt along the river course instead of the mud towed away to the designated areas.
The Hydrological Surveyor, attached to the office of Captain of Ports, R Gupta, who inspected the river on a motor boat along with the Velim MLA and officials told the media on board the boat that the department will direct the contractor to remove the silt dumped in the river as per the tender.
Gupta, however, said the desilting work is a process, wherein the contractor needs to arrange a barge to shift the silt from the river.
“It will take some time for the contractor to remove the silt since the barge requires a certain depth to come into the river. The contactor will be told to arrange a barge and lift away the silt," Gupta said.
Velim MLA Cruz Silva, however, demanded that the Captain of Ports should get the contractor to clear the debris dumped in the river before the ensuing monsoons.
The MLA feared that the ongoing exercise would do more damage to the river if the silt is not lifted away from the river. “The silt has to be lifted away. Apart from the river, the contractor dumped the silt along the mangrove plantation. This will only pave the way for the further encroachment of mangroves into the river, thus hampering navigation in the river and impacting the fishing activities,” he said.
The MLA further pointed out that the situation is no different along the Durga-Chinchinim course of the river. “The width of the river has narrowed down at Durga. Local panch Gerson Gomes had suggested to the contractor to lift away the silt through an internal road, but in vain,” he said.
Demanding that the Captain of Ports should not release the payments until the silt is lifted away, the Velim MLA has feared that the silt may be left untouched on the plea the barge cannot come into the river because of the depth.
Local fisherman, Remedios Crasto raised apprehensions that the river may overflow and inundate the villages on the banks of Sal if the silt is not lifted away from the river.
