MARGAO: Concerns over pollution in the River Sal have intensified, with allegations that untreated sewage and wastewater from key establishments in Margao are finding their way into the river through drainage channels.
Santan Pereira alleged that the South Goa District Hospital is among the major sources of pollution, claiming that untreated sewage is flowing through a nullah before eventually entering the River Sal.
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Pereira also pointed to the SGPDA wholesale market, alleging that wastewater generated from fish-related activities is being discharged into the drainage system and subsequently reaching the river.
Similar pollution sources, including the District Hospital nullah and the SGPDA market area, have reportedly been identified during official inspections.
Pereira also questioned the functioning of a water-purification project located near the wholesale market. He claimed that although the project has been in place for around three years, he has not seen it operating effectively.
Calls to Address Pollution at Source
With sewage entering the river through multiple drainage points, environmentalists and residents have been calling for the sources of pollution to be identified and permanently plugged instead of relying primarily on periodic cleaning drives.
The Goa State Pollution Control Board has also confirmed that sewage is entering the River Sal through storm-water nullahs in the Margao area.
The continuing pollution has raised concerns not only about the appearance of the river but also about its ecological health, fishing activities and the communities that depend on the waterway.
Residents are now seeking concrete measures to prevent sewage and waste from reaching the River Sal and have called for greater accountability to ensure that funds allocated for its cleaning and rejuvenation result in visible and lasting improvements.
