De-weeding work in progress at the river Sal.
MARGAO
With the monsoon fast approaching, the Water Resources Department (WRD) is racing against time to complete the de-weeding of the river Sal stretch between Comba-Margao and Mercado Mall-Benaulim.
Dark clouds looming over the region have heightened concerns that heavy rainfall could once again wash large quantities of water hyacinth and waste downstream into the sea at Betul before the work is completed.
WRD officials, speaking privately, said the contractor engaged for the de-weeding operation has been given one month to complete the project, with the deadline set for June 22. However, uncertainty remains over whether the work can be finished before the onset of heavy rains.
Residents and local authorities fear a repeat of last year’s situation, when massive quantities of water hyacinth were carried downstream during the monsoon and deposited along the Cavelossim-Mobor beach belt, creating environmental and tourism concerns.
Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz said the Panchayat had persistently pursued the matter with the South Goa Collector, who also heads the District Disaster Management Authority, urging immediate intervention to ensure the river Sal is cleared of the invasive weed.
“We had a bitter experience last year when tons of water hyacinth was washed onto the Cavelossim-Mobor beach belt. To prevent a repetition, we knocked on the doors of the district Collector to direct the WRD to undertake de-weeding of the river Sal,” Vaz said.
He added, “We only hope the contractor manages to cover a significant stretch of the river, if not complete the entire work, before the onset of the monsoon and spare us an environmental problem again”.
