Goa

Environmentalists have raised concern about the blockage of River Sal near the wholesale fish market in Madel

There have been complaints earlier about blockade of river’s flow caused by landfilling and dumping of debris

Herald Team

Team Herald

MARGAO: Environmentalists have raised concern about the blockage of River Sal near the wholesale fish market in Madel.

The spots where the flow of water has been blocked were also shown.

It may be recalled that there have been complaints earlier about how the flow of water of River Sal in neighbouring areas has been blocked by landfilling and dumping of debris.

Environmentalist Samuel Aaron Afonso from Carmona, who has done his research on the pollution levels of River Sal, expressed grave concern of what would happen in the area if corrective action is not taken at the earliest. He expressed fear of the area getting flooded in the future if the river is still blocked.

“The main flow of the River Sal has been blocked in order to carry forward with the new 4-lane highway project near the wholesale fish market, Madel, Margao. Complete blockage of the flow of the river, it may be temporary or permanent but it is totally unethical and has long term effects on the ecology of the river as a whole,” Afonso said.

He pointed to two areas near the fish market where it has been blocked and also under the small bridge, which has been blocked with a huge pile of sand.

“To make matters worse the river bed has been dug up furthermore and filled up with concrete which will cause permanent damage to the Sal which is already in a pathetic state due to sewage discharge. There were definitely alternate ways to carry on with the work without causing such a disaster, however this is the sad reality,’ he added further.

 “The water flowing down our rivers is vital to the natural equilibrium of the planet and its climate. It is my humble request to the locals and authorities to take keen interest in this river which has seen much better days in the past,” Afonso added.

It is to be noted that concerns have already been raised at Madel and Benaulim about the ongoing work of the western bypass given that there was flooding in these areas during last year’s monsoon.

The locals of Benaulim have also raised concerns about the government’s plan to build the western bypass stretch through their village on embankments.

Locals of Seraulim had also criticised the destruction of water bodies like ponds for the construction of the bypass stretch through their village on stilts

SCROLL FOR NEXT