the goan I network
MAPUSA
Accepting that Mapusa (Tar) River is polluted, Bastora Sarpanch, Savio Martins on Tuesday said raw sewage from Mapusa market was being let out into the nullah which makes its way into the river and polluting it.
He also demanded that Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) should take a sample of the river water, identify the source of pollution and take appropriate action against the offenders.
“A lot of people have informed me that raw sewage from Mapusa market is being let into the Mapusa River. I think the concerned authority has to take a call on it,” Martins said.
“GPSCB has declared Mapusa River as one of the most polluted river but no one is coming to a conclusion why it is polluted. If pollution is taking place because of the raw sewage coming through Mapusa market, the board has to take appropriate action by sealing the premises who release it into the river,” he added.
The Bastora sarpanch was speaking to media after launching desilting work of Mapusa River.On the occasion hot-mixing of several roads in wards 1, 2 and 3 of Bastora was also taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 60.31 lakh.
Speaking further, Martins said that he has recently written to the GSPCB member secretary to carry out inspection of the river, take a sample and submit a report so that government can take necessary corrective action.
As per the works, WRD will de-silt 480 metres of the river from Tar Bridge to the pipe bridge on NH-66.
The scope of work entails desilting of the river and transportation of extracted silt ostensibly to prevent deposition of debris from Mapusa market, avoid flooding during monsoon and prevent stagnation of water.
The work is scheduled to commence on February 6 and is expected to end within two months, by April 6.
“The silt accumulated on the mouth of the pipe bridge along the NH-66 blocks the flow of water. WRD has promised to remove the silt choking the pipes.
Aldona BJP Mandal, president, Franky Carvalho thanked Aldona MLA, Glen Ticlo and the govt for series of works taken up in Aldona.
He said the focus of the govt was development and many more projects were in pipeline which will be launched soon.
“Boat trips on Mapusa River could fetch income, jobs’
MAPUSA: Giving thumbs up to a plan of developing Mapusa River into a tourist spot, Bastora Sarpanch, Savio Martins said once the river was desilted the panchayat could think of starting boating trips along the river.
“I think we can focus on boat trips which could be used for crocodile and birds/bat sighting along the river. That way we can tap tourism and also generate income and employment for local youth,” Martins said.
He said while formulating the Gram Panchayat Development Plan for the village one of the plans was to develop the Mapsua River into a tourist spot.
For that to happen, he said, a new bridge in place of the present Tar Bridge and a box bridge in place of pipe bridge across NH-66 was of necessity. He said once this infra was in place and the entire stretch of Mapusa River was properly desilted, boat trips could be a sell out .
