MARGAO
March 29, 2012 was late Manohar Parrikar’s first visit to minority Saxttidom, which had just revolted against the Congress party in the 2012 Assembly polls, reducing the Congress’ tally of seats to just two.
When he descended on the banks of river Sal on March 29 with supporting MLAs Avertano Furtado and Caitu Silva in tow, Parrikar announced “Mission Clean up river Sal”. The avowed objective behind his visit to Sinquetim-Navelim was to have a look at the incomplete Navelim-Benaulim bridge and verify the objections on both sides of the river to the bridge.
Candid enough in admitting that he could not even see his reflection in the water when he was crossing the bridge under construction, Parrikar had then promised to take up river Sal clean up on priority, even saying the task before the authorities is to first cut the source of pollution. He went on to assure that the source of pollution may be reduced in a year’s time.
In this respect, the former Chief Minister had mooted a unique project to collect the sewage and waste water flowing into the Kudchadkar storm nullah in makeshift well before pumping the sewage to the STP plant at Sirvodem.
