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THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA: Pointing to the sloppy dredging work being carried out in Mapusa River, Congress spokesman Amarnath Panjikar said dredging of the river was important but not at the cost of the environment.
“NGT has issued notices to various departments against the blatant land filling carried in the middle of the river. But still the work continues at the site. This clearly shows that the BJP-led coalition government is least bothered about environment and destruction of natural resources,” Panjikar said.
The Congress spokesman was addressing a news conference at the Congress district office in Mapusa on Thursday.
Speaking further, Panjikar said authorities concerned have failed to obtain required permissions to dredge the river.
He said the Water Resources Department (WRD) had failed to obtain permission from environment, PWD, River and Navigation and other departments.
He also said the dredging of river was carried out in a very unscientific manner and without proper application of mind.
“If the government is really concerned about the river, then the entire river stretch up to Sirsaim has to be cleaned. Dredging only 400 metres of the river will serve no purpose,” he said.
Aldona Congress Block President Ashwin D’Souza, North District Congress Committee member Roma Fernandes and North District Youth Vice President Karthik Shettye were also present at the news conference.
