Calls for unified efforts to save river from decay
MARGAO
Saying that River Sal is the most polluted among the rivers of Goa, Water Resource Development Minister Subhash Shirodkar on Saturday sounded the warning bells, stating that the situation at River Sal will get out of hand if all the stakeholders do not come together to save the river from decay.
In fact, he said the stakeholders, including the government, MLAs of Margao and Fatorda, besides government departments such as WRD should set a target of December 2025 to rejuvenate and clean up the river.
When the media questioned him whether the WRD has any plans to rejuvenate and restore the River Sal to its pristine glory, Shirodkar said the stretch of the river up to the wholesale fish market will be cleared of stink and pollution by January next year. He said the air purifiers installed in the river at the wholesale fish market will be commissioned in January, which will help to check pollution.
The WRD Minister, however, insisted on the importance of completing the underground sewerage network to stop the discharge of raw sewage and waste water into the nullahs which later find its way into the River Sal. “It is high time the stakeholders, including the government, the MLAs of Fatorda and Margao all come under the same page to save the river. Otherwise, the situation at River Sal will go out of hand. We should not allow such a thing to happen.”
With sewage and waste water discharge from Margao city polluting the Salpem lake in neighbouring Navelim, Shirodkar said the WRD has floated a tender for restoration and development of the picturesque water body.
Asserting that River Sal is the most polluted amongst the rivers of Goa, Shirodkar also called for public support and cooperation to keep the river clean. Recalling his visit to Indore in the recent past, which prides itself as the cleanest city of India, Shirodkar said the people of Indore have taken over the responsibility to keep their city clean. “One will not even find a stray animal, including dogs in the city. This is because the people there take pride in keeping their city clean,” he added.
Margao MLA Digambar Kamat said River Sal is not that much polluted downstream in the villages of Assolna, Ambelim and Velim, admitting that the river is affected by mostly in Margao and Fatorda because of the waste water discharge.
