MARGAO
In what is seen as a serious bid to restore the pristine glory of River Sal, Salcete’s lifeline, the Water Resources Department on Saturday launched a Rs 24 crore pilot project to rejuvenate the river in phases, beginning with the Verna-Nuvem-Fatorda stretch.
The pilot project includes improvement of water ways from Verna to the wholesale fish market, Fatorda, at a stretch of around 9.40 kms by constructing a barrage with mechanically operated gates and automated aeration system to improve the water quality of River Sal.
The project includes desilting and beautification of the Verna lake, the original point of the river Sal. The beautification of the picturesque Salpem lake in Navelim will also be take up soon.
Launching the project near the wholesale fish market on Saturday in the presence of Nuvem MLA Alexio Sequeira and his Fatorda counterpart Vijai Sardesai, the WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar said the project will not only clean up River Sal, but help the farmers along the Verna-Nuvem stretch in a big way.
“Today is a historic day for the people of Nuvem and Fatorda. For the first time after Goa’s liberation, the River Sal, which has been craving for attention for a long time now has been taken up for rejuvenation and restoration”, Shirodkar said, while saying the Rs 24 crore project will go a long way in restoring the pristine glory of the river.
He said the downstream stretch will be taken up for restoration in the second phase, saying it will take around two years for the pilot project to see light of the day. “Once this project is completed, the river will not only be cleared of the pollution, but the farmers along the Verna-Nuvem belt will get water for irrigation. We have plans to go for micro irrigation and drip irrigation in phase II with solar energy.
Farmer groups will be formed in Nuvem with the help and assistance of local MLA Alexio Sequeira”, he said.
While saying the pilot project consists of setting up a barrage, aeration system, retaining walls and maintenance of bunds, Shirodkar said he would prefer a 2-3 km walkway along the river Sal as part of the project.
Chief Engineer Badani informed that the project entails pumping of 680 cubic meter of air every hour in the river as per the requirement. “No chemicals will be used in the rejuvenation considering the presence of fish in the river. The river will be desilted right from the wholesale fish market to the Verna lake, along with the four tributaries. The entire watershed of River Sal will be put in order in two years line. This is the commencement of the river Sal rejuvenation project”, he said.
He added: “Under this project, we will have a barrage with mechanical gates, which will open and close automatically. The water quality will be monitored on a daily basis by a technical team. With the flushing of water, we are 100 per cent sure that the water quality will be maintained and improved to restore the river Sal to its pristine glory”, he added.
