TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: There’s good news in store for environmentalist and citizens alike anxious to restore the pristine glory of Salcete’s lifeline River Sal.
Water testing by the Japanese experts as part of restoration of the river has revealed that the water does not contain metals such as chromium. With the presence of chromium ruled out in the river, experts have now focussed their attention on the organic content in the water.
Goa State Pollution Control Board Chairman Jose Manuel Noronha said that testing of the river water has ruled out chromium content. “The agency has collected around 100 water samples from the river course, right from Nuvem and downstream. These samples have been sent to Chennai for testing to ascertain the organic content given the sewage discharge in the water”, Noronha said.
The Board is expected to receive results of the water sample and accordingly put in place the plan of action for remediation of the river. The government has signed a MoU with JICA for the remediation and restoration of the river hit by rampant discharge of sewage water all along the course.
River Sal had hit the headlines two years ago when Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar inspected the river at Navelim during his visit to the village after taking over the reigns of office. Based on Chief Minister’s directions, the Goa State Pollution Control Board had signed a MoU with the Japanese agency for decontamination and remediation to restore the river to its pristine glory.
