MARGAO
Is the River Sal de-silted for quick flow off of flood waters during the ensuing monsoons? Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari’s envoy R K Pandey had recommended de-silting/dredging of the river Sal as part of the recommendations for a comprehensive drainage plan to avoid flooding in the flood plains of Khareband and Benaulim.
A visit near the Khareband bridge has revealed that the river Sal, especially the river course between Mungul and Khareband bride is occupied by a thick carpet of the water hyacinth weed. Leave alone implementing the comprehensive drainage plan, even the river Sal is not yet de-silted till date, raising questions over the government’s seriousness in putting in place a comprehensive drainage plan to mitigate flooding.
