MARGAO
How many more years will it take for the authorities to rejuvenate the River Sal and stop it from getting contaminated? Is the Sal rejuvenation plan gone haywire for the reason that raw sewage continues to flow into the river day in and out for want of a full-proof system to treat the millions of sewage generated in the commercial capital and neighbouring villages? Apart from the sewage disposal, the absence of a full-proof solid waste management collection and disposal system has cast doubts on the efficacy of the rejuvenation plan.
These and other questions may come to haunt the authorities as it’s now three years since the government had constituted the River Sal Rejuvenation Committee to prepare an action plan as per the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for the rejuvenation of polluted stretches of rivers in the state, including the river Sal “ considered the lifeline of Salcete.
Take note, the Captain of Ports and the Water Resources Department are in the process of executing the river Sal rejuvenation plan by desilting stretches falling in its jurisdiction. The WRD has also implemented the de-weeding of the river in its jurisdiction for the second successive year.
However, the moot question that remains unanswered “ will Saxttikars hope to see Sal river rejuvenated unless the Sewerage & Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa and the PWD stop the flow of millions of litres of untreated sewage water in the river every day?
A glance at the River Sal rejuvenation plan shows that the committee had set deadlines to get certain measures implemented along the river stretches, right from Khareband to Betul, including Kaknamodi in Cuncolim.
The same old questions have come to haunt the River Sal Rejuvenation Committee (RSRC) -- has the Sewerage Corporation or the PWD got the households in the commercial capital connected to the two state-of-the-art sewerage treatment plants set up at Sirvodem? How many more years will it take for the Sewerage Corporation and its contractors to complete work on the North Main line in Fatorda, in the absence of which raw sewage flows down into the Sal?
That’s not all. Have the Margao Municipal Council and neighbouring villages put in place a full-proof system for the improvement and upgradation of the waste management facility, including collection system, composting and MRF facilities along the stretch?
As part of the action plan strategy, it was recommended to install natural treatment (SIBF/phytorid beds) immediately in 18 months along the banks at seven places in order to avoid pollution. Three years down the line and it could not be ascertained whether these measures have become a reality.
The action plan had recommended improvement and upgradation of the existing solid waste management facility, including the collection system, composting facilities and erection of facilities for non-biodegradable waste at Sonsodo and other villages. The ground reality at Sonsodo does not inspire much confidence with the Margao municipality still struggling to handle the daily waste generated in the commercial capital.
A senior official associated with the river Sal rejuvenation told The Goan that piecemeal measures will not help in rejuvenating the river Sal unless a full-proof sewerage system is put in place in the city and the adjoining villages.
He added: “More than 90 per cent of the issues plaguing the river Sal can be addressed with one stroke if the untreated sewerage water is stopped from flowing into the river from Margao and other areas”.
