MARGAO
A close look at the ongoing beautification of the River Sal near the Khareband bridge reveals a stark contrast. While the stretch near the bridge has been de-weeded and given a facelift, the river course towards Benaulim remains choked by a thick green carpet of invasive water hyacinth.
Adding to the concern is the quality of water flowing beneath the Khareband bridge. The discoloured water suggests that all is not well, despite the cosmetic improvements along the riverbank.
These observations point to a larger issue: only a limited stretch of the river near the bridge appears to have been taken up for beautification. This has once again raised questions over whether the Water Resources Department (WRD) has prepared a comprehensive drainage plan for the River Sal along the Pedda“Benaulim“Khareband stretch, as recommended by central expert RK Pandey.
Inquiries by The Goan have revealed that WRD officials had submitted a proposal to the department’s headquarters a couple of months ago for de-silting the River Sal from Pedda to the Khareband bridge via Benaulim. However, officials have remained tight-lipped about the status of the proposal and whether it will be implemented before the onset of the monsoon, a delay that could increase the risk of flooding and inundation of the floodplains”particularly after the construction of the western bypass through the Tolleaband water body.
It may be recalled that Pandey had recommended a series of measures to address the river’s drainage issues. These include the preparation of a comprehensive drainage plan, de-silting of the River Sal, construction of retaining walls, and the addition of culverts along the Khareband“Mercado Mall road to facilitate faster drainage of water from the Tolleaband water body.
