WEED-ACHE RETURNS TO SAL WATERS

MARGAO

Water Hyacinth has returned to river Sal, considered Salcete’s lifeline, as the river has been covered again by a thick green carpet of the weed and vegetation on its course near the Khareband bridge.

Take note, the weed has re-surfaced just a year after the river was de-silted and the weeds were cleared from the course last year by the Water Resources Department under the river Sal rejuvenation plan.

A view of the river from the Khareband bridge shows the extent of the weed that has taken roots in the river on both sides.

Under the river Sal rejuvenation plan, the Water Resources Department had taken up the desilting and de-weeding of the river by spending crores of rupees. Right from Nuvem to the Khareband bridge and beyond, the river course was de-silted and de-weeded as part of the plan.

Incidentally, while the river was being de-silted and de-weeded, there’s still no end to the flow of millions of litres of sewage into the river from Margao and the surrounding area, raising questions about whether the piecemeal measures, including de-silting and de-weeding, would in any way help rejuvenate the river without arresting the flow of sewage waters.

River Sal is considered the lifeline of Salcete taluka, originating from Verna Plateau and emptying into the Arabian Sea at Mobor, near Betul Bay. Its total length is pegged at around 40 km, of which around 20 km is believed to be playing host to saline water.

“Due to increased habitation within Margao city and Fatorda, and various infrastructural development activities along the bank of the river Sal, there is major siltation in the river. Also due to uncontrolled release of sewerage waste (solid and liquid form) directly into the river, the water is polluted,” says WRD Superintending Engineer, Ankush Gaonkar.

He added: River Sal is identified among the most polluted rivers in the country under category III by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) having a BOD level range between 4.2 – 16.8 mg/lit.

Based on the National Green Tribunal’s directions, he said the Goa State Pollution Control Board has prepared the action plan and directed various departments to take immediate measures to rejuvenate river Sal.

“Accordingly, Water Resources Department has prepared an estimate to desilt river Sal and its nullahs, and clear the bushes, vegetation and water hyacinth around the bank of the river under phase I from 9.4 km (district hospital Margao) to 17.66 km (near Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel, Navelim)”, he added.

Gaonkar pointed out that the WRD has now floated a tender to desilt the Verna-Nuvem stretch of river Sal, which will be opened in the next few days.

Clean up commences as per 3-year maintenance clause

MARGAO

With the de-silting and de-weeding of the river Sal contained a clause for maintenance of the river for three years, the contractor has deployed machinery to de-weed the river along courses of the river.

Water Resources Department, Superintending Engineer, Ankush Gaonkar told The Goan that the tender mandates the contractor to de-weed the clean the vegetation and bushes from the river banks for a period of three years.

“The contractor has started the work of de-weeding of the river. The WRD is monitoring the work carried out by the contractor. We would ensure that the river is de-weeded as per the clause in the contract”, Gaonkar added.

Proposed chain fencing, silt arresters yet to take shape

MARGAO

Where is the chain link fencing mooted to stop dumping of garbage into river Sal by the High-Level panel headed by then Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral during the inspection of the stormwater nullahs around 10 months ago?

That’s not all. The fate of the proposed silt arresters mooted at the mouth of the connecting stormwater nullahs to reduce siltation of the river Sal also remains unknown.

It’s also not known whether the panel’s recommendation to cap further construction along the banks of river Sal for a distance of eight metres from the outer bank of the river boundary has found favour with the government and planning authorities.

Construction of the chain link fencing on either side of the culvert/bridges over the river Sal was proposed by the expert panel to stop the dumping of garbage into the river. The inspection had unearthed rampant dumping of waste and garbage into the river near the culverts and bridges.

Sadly, the chain link fencing has not taken shape at any of the culverts/bridges along the river Sal course passing through Margao city.

Similarly, none of the silt arrestors proposed to be set up at the mouth of the stormwater nullahs has become a reality to date.

Water Resources Department, Superintending engineer, Ankush Gaonkar, who was part of the high-level panel of experts that had inspected the river Sal and the stormwater nullahs last year, pointed out that all these measures will take shape when the estimates for the desilting of the river Sal between Verna and Nuvem is taken up by the department.