MARGAO: The River Bank Filtration (RBF) project for the
River Sal was inaugurated in Mandopa on Wednesday at the hands of Fisheries
Minister Avertano Furtado.
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), with the support
of American-based Ramboll Environ Foundation (REF), will work on filtration of
the water from the river for posterity and to provide water to agriculturists
the vicinity.
Speaking on the occasion, TERI head R K Pachauri explained
why such projects are required across the world, especially in Goa. He stated,
“The increase in the seawater level is threatening the inland freshwater
sources all over the world, and Goa particularly is highly vulnerable to it.
Hence, for future generations to have clean water, these projects need to be
brought in.”
MLA Furtado stated, “It was my promise even before elections
and gradually I will get the river cleaned and give it to the people, not as
clean as drinkable water, but at least better that what it is today.”
TERI and REF have jointly introduced the RBF for this
project, which is new to Goa but has been used for the Ganges and Haridwar. The
project will include digging of two bore wells near the river bank, where the
water will flow in through filtration procedures and later be filtered again
into the second well and pumped out to the final user. The organisations will
conduct several tests on the river water for a year and later decide their
course of action.
