Much water had flowed down the River Sal – considered Salcete’s lifeline – ever since Manohar Parrikar announced Mission River Clean Up, shortly after taking over the reins of office in March 2012. Parrikar’s promise to restore the river to its pristine glory, however, remained only on paper. The River Sal restoration project never took off despite the keen interest displayed by the three MLAs, Avertano Furtado, Benjamin Silva and Caetano alias Caitu Silva. Not even a comprehensive plan has been put in place to tackle the pollution and de-silt River Sal. Though these MLAs had hoped that Parrikar would come out with a comprehensive plan to de-contaminate the river, it remains unknown whether the river will be on the agenda of the new government.
