Across Goa one can see saline waters of these major rivers destroyed all cultivable fields and coconuts groves lying on their banks and no government agencies ever undertook any repairs of the breaches as was timely done during the Portuguese regime. Over the years the poor Bhatkars also could not undertake the repairs of these bundhs to protect their properties as it required huge finances.
Irresponsible and selfish residents also used explosives to kill fish and the law of the land failed to take action on these law breakers under the patronage of elected representatives. As a result with constant inundation most of the rivers lost their depths and become shallow thus flooding all nearby fields and properties and lakhs of square meters of fertile land is washed away.
The river Sal the so called lifeline of Salcete was heavily polluted by sewerage from Margao and was stinking so badly as the natural flow of this river was blocked by the silt and without undertaking disilting of this river soon it could easily surpass the stench of the famous Thana creek of Mumbai.
We noticed from the media that Gramsabhas in these affected villages endlessly debated the issues without any solution in the absence of huge funds that are required for the purpose.
Being a Panchayat Member for past three terms and having noticed the anguish of the locals from my ward and having great concern for environment and farming I devoted a lot of my time and energy for desilting of ponds and lakes in my village and also used the Panchayat office to make representation to different agencies of the present Government through our MLA and to the central Government through our south Goa MP Mr. Narendra Savoikar to make available funds from the centre for the upkeep of the river Sal for desilting and reconstruction of its bundhs. I also kept constant follow up with the only cabinet Minister of Salcete to take up the issue with the Government through the cabinet, he being the only representative of the affected villages along river Sal.
If the Central Government felt that it is wise to nationalize the major rivers in the state in order to legally provide the huge funds that are required then I feel it is the duty of the affected villages to take the opportunity and get a solution to the problem which is beyond our control and for which our past local governments have miserably failed all these years for lack of these funds.
The political parties which are now trying to grab the issue for political gains, should first put on record, how and from where the huge funds can be availed and also give constructive suggestions as to how the rivers can be maintained before these rivers are utilized by the government for navigation. We should not put the cart before the horse.
