Team Herald
PANJIM: Ruling out that the national waterways project covering six rivers is meant for capital dredging, the government expressed grave concern over encroachment of rivers, particularly in the South District. The State insisted that a proper survey and desilting of the rivers would restrict illegality.
“River encroachments are taking place, especially in the South Goa like the river stretch from Borim to Cortalim and other areas till Chicalim. Barges are being repaired. To avoid this, a proper survey and desilting of rivers are a must,” River Navigation Minister Ramkrishna (Sudin) Dhavalikar said on Tuesday.
The minister reiterated that the government will continue to hold rights over dredging of rivers even as six Goan rivers are declared as National Waterways. He also cited urgent desilting of the highly contaminated River Sal and that the Union government has decided to take it up on priority.
“River Sal is totally contaminated. It needs to be desilted to maintain uniform depth to enable navigation. Desilting is not for capital dredging. There is a misconception that desilting of the rivers is to facilitate offshore casinos and for coal transportation. Many have also misunderstood that the tripartite agreement will snatch away rights from Goa. I want to make it clear that there is no hidden agenda behind carrying out this proposed project,” he said, claiming that the State government will retain all powers even after signing the MoU with Inland Waterways Authority of India and Mormugao Port Trust.
Dhavalikar went on to state that Union Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced to take up work of River Sal on priority. “He (Gadkari) told me that the rights over Goans rivers will remain with us. He also said that desilting of River Sal will be taken on priority under Phase I while Cumbarjua canal will be under Phase-II. At least one metre from the side and three metres from the centre of the rivers need to be desilted. It will benefit we all Goans,” he said, adding that the project will largely benefit tourism as Goa can adopt Kerala’s boat house projects in the hinterland.
