MONDAY, MAY 20, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: Once famous for its pristine beauty, Navelim’s Mandopa rivulet is once again in the news. This time, this tributary of River Sal, is now littered with non-biodegradable plastic and Styrofoam in massive quantities, causing fear among the residents that this waste could make its way into the Arabian Sea via River Sal.
During their visit to the rivulet, citizens and the environmentalists from Navelim were in for a rude shock after they found massive quantities of waste, including non-biodegradable plastic and styrofoam floating in it following heavy rains. Taking serious note of the same, the residents have made a written complaint to the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSBCB) via email for an immediate inspection urging the board to direct the authorities concerned to remove the waste from the rivulet immediately.
It has been revealed that nullahs, fields and water bodies’ littered with waste right from the Konkan Railway Station, Rawanfond, Firgulem, Aquém Baixo, Dongorim and Mandopa are contributing to the catastrophic devastation.
It may be recalled that the same rivulet witnessed wanton dumping of mixed waste such as soiled diapers, household garbage including non-biodegradable plastics and chicken carcasses.
The residents fear that styrofoam boxes, pet bottles and other waste stuck below the Mandopa bridge could make its way into the Arabian Sea.
Speaking to O Heraldo, Carmo Carneiro, a resident said that he has made a written complaint to the GSPCB via email for an immediate and prompt inspection urging the board to direct the authorities concerned to remove the waste from the rivulet immediately.
“The River Sal tributary passes through Firgulem, Dongorim, Mandopa, Aquém-Baixo, Rawanfond and heads to the Arabian Sea, where the non-biodegradable waste comprising styrofoam boxes, pet bottles and other waste has got stuck under the Mandopa bridge"” he stated.
He said that there is a definite fear that this waste may find its way into the Arabian Sea via River Sal.
Carneiro requested the authorities including GSPCB to hold an immediate inspection and acknowledge the Village Panchayats of Davorlim, Aquém-Baixo and Navelim and the Margao Municipal Council to take immediate measures to stop littering and polluting of the River Sal tributary.
He accused the Margao Municipal Council, Davorlim, Aquem-Baixo and Navelim panchayats of not taking the issue seriously.
“People are more interested in creating communal issues in the name of warriors of historical battles rather than paying attention to the soaring problems of mass degradation of the environment and its resources,” he added.
He claimed that nullahs, fields and water bodies, which are polluted and littered with waste right from Konkan Railway Station, Rawanfond, Firgulem, Aquém Baixo, Dongorim and Mandopa, are contributing to this catastrophic devastation.
Parts of Rawanfond, Firgulem, Dongorim and Mandopa inhabited by migrants, who are least concerned about the environment and wellbeing of Goa and its beauty, Carneiro charged.
Caetano Fernandes, another resident said that a day will come when all the waste dumped into the rivulet will reach the residents’ doorsteps.
"This is the result of the nuisance created by dumping of waste including plastics into the rivulets and fields. The waste is now flowing into the rivulet which is now stuck at one place- Mandopa Bridge. It is high time that the authorities concerned including the panchayats initiate measures to prevent a disaster in the near future,” he urged.
When O Heraldo contacted GSPCB chairman Mahesh Patil he said, “Presently, I am not aware of the issue, but will take note of the complaint and necessary directions will be issued to the concerned authorities.”
