MARGAO
Contamination of the river Sal took the centre stage at the gram sabha of the Orlim Panchayat on Sunday.
The meeting chaired by Sarpanch Simon Pereira saw members highlighting the issue of river Sal pollution due to rampant discharge of raw sewage waters in the water body along the course from Margao.
Members have expressed concern over the contamination of the river and how it has affected the livelihood of the citizens dependent on the river .
They demanded that the Panchayat write a letter to the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), the Captain of Ports and other authorities to stop the unscrupulous establishments from discharging sewage in the river and to restore the river to its pristine glory.
The gram sabha members adopted a resolution demanding the withdrawal of the DPR sanctioned by the Centre to Karnataka to start work on the Kalasa and Bhandura projects.
The members have called on the Goa government to take all necessary steps to protect the river Mhadei from being diverted to Karnataka.
Gram sabha members also opposed the track doubling project and the plan to make Goa a coal hub.
