MARGAO
The River Sal is once again in the news, this time after social worker Warren Alemao demanded a thorough inquiry into the beautification-cum-de-weeding works carried out along the river earlier this year.
Speaking to the media on Friday, Alemao said people in Benaulim had been led to believe that the de-weeding and beautification work was carried out under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. However, he alleged that the Water Resources Department (WRD) floated a tender for the work after it had already been completed.
Alleging that the work was carried out in violation of codal formalities and without a work order, Alemao questioned how the WRD could float a tender for the same work after its completion. “I had contacted WRD engineers, but they refused to shed light on the work. I have also called the WRD chief engineer, demanding transparency in the entire process,” he said, adding that he would formally lodge a complaint with the department and seek a full-fledged investigation into the beautification project.
“Since I came across a tender floated by the WRD for the beautification of the River Sal near Khareband Bridge, I wondered how the department could float a tender when the work had already been completed. Secondly, people of Benaulim were led to believe that the beautification work was carried out under CSR. In the fitness of things, the WRD must come clean on the work,” he said.
He added, “My only intention in highlighting the issue is to ensure that taxpayers’ money does not go down the drain. Lakhs of rupees, if not crores, have already been spent on the de-weeding of the river, and that money appears to have gone down the drain. Let the WRD come clean on the tender and the work that has already been completed.”
