MARGAO
Saying the dredging of the River Sal is being carried out as per the National Green Tribunal’s directions, Captain of Ports, James Braganza on Monday said the dredging work is executed as per the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study carried out by the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO).
Capt Braganza further said that the authorities, including his office, has no plans to bulldoze with the River Sal dredging work, allaying apprehensions raised by the stakeholders that the activity would spell doom for the traditional fishermen.
“We would be more than willing to discuss and allay the apprehensions raised by the stakeholders. I want to only remind that the work is being carried out as per the NGT directives and based on the EIA report compiled by the NIO”, he said.
When his attention was drawn to reports that the silt and dredge material is being dumped in the village when the rules mandate shifting it outside, Capt Braganza recalled that many a time people request the contractor to dump the silt in their property in order to strengthen the bunds.
“We have no intention to violate the norms in place”, he said, while reiterating that the government has taken up the 18-km River Sal dredging work from Khareband bridge as per the NGT directions.
