MARGAO
De-weeding of the River Sal with a mechanical aquatic weed harvester in the river has helped to get rid of the water hyacinth at a good part of the river stretch on the Benaulim side right up to the Khareband bridge.
A green carpet of the water hyacinth weed is still occupying the river course along the Khareband bridge-Sirvodem-Margao side, raising questions whether the ongoing exercise to de-weed River Sal will be complete before the onset of monsoons.
A visit to the Khareband bridge shows that the river stretch up to the bridge from the Benaulim side has been de-weeded. Tons of the water hyacinth weed have been dumped on the river banks after the de-weeding exercise.
With monsoon round the corner, questions, however, have been raised in Benaulim and Margao whether the de-weeding exercise will take place along the Khareband-Sirvodem stretch as well or will the authorities wait for nature to get rid of the river of the water hyacinth.
It is also feared that unless the Khareband-Sirvodem stretch is cleared of the water hyacinth weed, the flow and movement of water during the rains may be hampered by the presence of the weed.
