MARGAO
Even as the fencing installed at the culvert near the Margao wholesale fish market has helped curb waste dumping into the River Sal to some extent, indiscriminate dumping from the Mungul bridge continues unabated due to the absence of similar protective measures.
Local residents and social activists have expressed concern that the Mungul bridge has become a convenient dumping point for unscrupulous elements, with garbage bags routinely being thrown directly into the river. They allege that despite repeated complaints, the concerned authorities have failed to install fencing or take preventive action at the site.
A visit to the Mungul bridge reveals the grim reality, with the bridge effectively serving as a platform for dumping waste into the River Sal. Garbage bags can be seen entangled on the water pipeline running parallel to the bridge, clearly indicating the scale and persistence of illegal dumping.
A local social activist questioned why government departments have not extended the fencing work to the Mungul bridge, similar to the measures implemented near the wholesale fish market culvert. “If the authorities require proof of waste dumping from the Mungul bridge, they should conduct an on-site inspection to understand the seriousness of the problem,” the activist said.
He further stressed that piecemeal measures would not help rejuvenate the River Sal. “If the authorities are genuinely committed to preventing waste from entering the river, all culverts and bridges along the wholesale fish market“Khareband stretch must be properly fenced to deter miscreants,” he added.
Residents have urged the authorities to take immediate and comprehensive steps to protect the river, warning that continued inaction will only worsen pollution and undermine efforts to restore the Sal.
