MARGAO: The Chinchinim-Deussua Village Panchayat on Thursday rejected the proposal of Captain of Ports for the no objection certificate for desilting of River Sal.
The Green Brigade of Goa has requested the people to be alert and join hands to oppose the desilting of the River Sal.
In the Phase II of the desilting, the River Sal stretched from Telaulim-Varca new bridge towards downstream upto the mouth of River Sal has been tendered and awaiting for execution.
There were vessels and machines that reached the River Sal for the commencement of work. However, the fishermen said that they won’t allow the desilting of the river.
The Chinchinim-Deussua Village Panchayat informed the Captain of Ports that both the request letters were placed for the body meeting in April 2019 and September 2019 and there was no conclusion arrived at the meeting.
On 9 December 2020, the villagers brought to the notice of the panchayat that some dredging work was going on in the River Sal in the jurisdiction of the village panchayat.
“There is fear and apprehension among the villagers that dredging of River Sal will be damaging the ecology and also affecting the riverine biodiversity. There are chances of river banks becoming prone to erosion and losing its flora and fauna. River dredging can have a number of impacts on the local fish population, Clams, Oysters and other Crustacean also seabed dwelling fishes. The panchayat along with the concerned ward members and the residents along the River Sal in the panchayat jurisdiction assembled at the site and strongly opposed the said work taken by the concerned authority without taking necessary permission from the panchayat,” informed Sarpanch Inacina Rebello.
The panchayat has requested the Captain of Ports to stop the ongoing work immediately in order to stop unrest in the village.
Abhijit Prabhudesai of the Rainbow Warriors said that River Sal is again under attack.
He said, “The advent of a dredger into River Sal for capital dredging of the river for ‘free movement of vessels’ has shocked and enraged the locals, especially the traditional fishermen.”
“AVCB Traditional Fishermen Association, who represent small fishers from the entire length of the river, and villagers of Chinchinim have written letters to the Captain of Ports pointing out how the proposed dredging of River Sal is illegal and devastating. The letters state the legal requirements for environment impact assessment and consent of the people and demand that the work order (disguised as desilting) must be revoked,” pointed out Prabhudesai.
On Thursday, the ship got grounded on its way, at Codeawaddo, Chinchinim. So could not reach the work site further upstream.
