the goan I network
BICHOLIM
Speaker Dr Pramod Sawant has directed the Water Resources Department and other government bodies to survey the Valvanti river and to chalk out a plan to safeguard the river from pollution.
Leaders cutting across parties and other government officials discussed ways to protect the Valvanti River, which is being polluted by sewage and garbage.
The issue was discussed at a meeting convened by Dr Sawant at the Ravindra Bhavan in Sakhali, which was attended by former chief minister and Poriem MLA Pratapsing Rane, Bicholim Mamledar Pravinjay Pandit, senior government officers, councillors and panchayat members.
Dr Sawant said the Valvanti river is in need of urgent attention and called upon villagers, associations and government bodies to work together to keep the Valvanti river clean.
He expressed concern as garbage, sewage, plastic and other waste was being discarded into the river, giving rise to waterborne diseases in Sakhali and other parts of Sattari.
Incidentally, the Padosem water treatment plant and Sakhali town are dependent on water from the Valvanti river.
The speaker opined that all 11 main rivers and 42 tributaries are in need of urgent attention and added that he has written to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to address the issue on priority basis.
Poriem MLA Pratapsing Rane said it is the duty of every villager to keep the river clean and appealed to people to refrain from discarding waste into the river.
He also emphasised the need to create awareness among school students, so that they would grow to understand the adverse effects of pollution.
Gopinath Gawas presented a slide show on the Valvanti river and its pollution.
WRD officers agreed to conduct review meetings every month to assess the pollution levels in the river.
Senior journalist Sagar Javadekar suggested the formation of a state-level committee to address the problem, since it is of concern to the entire State.
Bicholim Mamledar Pravinjay Pandit also spoke at the meeting.
