Most of our rivers are dying. Once sublime, they have become sick due to reckless human activities. The trees and shrubs along the banks of the rivers are cut leading to soil erosion. Huge quantity of silt has accumulated on the river beds, making the rivers shallow. People pollute the rivers by dumping plastics, bottles, clothes, dead animals, human wastes into it. We have been using rivers, lakes, and ponds as dustbins. These water bodies must be cleaned and punitive measures must be taken to prevent people harming the ecology of our water bodies. The central government has taken up an ambitious programme of restoring the health of the water bodies. Further, the government wants to develop waterways to transport people and goods. Water transport is cheaper, and less polluting. Hence the Central government is interested in developing waterways in Goa as an alternative to road transport. And as usual there is opposition! Even some members of the ruling dispensation have openly opposed the proposal. Such persons should resign from the ruling party and then do the politicking. The Congress party has to oppose whatever the Central government proposes. And a leading light of the opposition in Goa has sought to create paranoia against the better utilization of rivers and canals in Goa.
SND Poojary, Miramar
