The Sal river has turned black and putrid at Khareband, raising questions on the effectiveness of ongoing cleanup operations. Immediate action is required to stop sewage from being discharged into the river. The darkened water is clearly visible along the stretch near the Khareband bridge, and questions arise whether current efforts are addressing the source of the pollution or things are done as a mere formality. The Sal cannot be cleaned unless the sewage laden nullahs feeding it are addressed first. Five major nullahs in Margao, among them the Old Market nullah are the primary contributors to the river's deterioration. Studies have flagged seepage from poorly maintained soak pits, laundry effluents, slaughterhouse runoff, and fish waste from the SGPDA wholesale fish market as major pollutant loads reaching the Sal through these drains. Untreated sewage is being discharged into the river as reflected in official data tabled during the recent assembly session, which showed dissolved oxygen levels dropping to near zero for five consecutive months at downstream monitoring points, indicating a near total collapse of aquatic life. The river can only be revived by tackling pollution at source, not through cosmetic cleanup drives.
VINAY DWIVEDI, Benaulim
