TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Dredging of River Sal will be taken up soon after monsoon season in October, with the Captain of Ports (CoP) shortlisting Margao based Western Dredging agency to carrying out the work at the mouth of the river. The proposal is to be forwarded to State government.
The CoP has proposed dredging across the sand bars at the mouth of River Sal and also across the sand spits in the river within an area of 800 mtrs in length, 30 mtrs wide and three mtrs deep. The decision to undertake dredging came after fishing trawler owners using the Cutbona jetty highlighted the difficulties faced in navigation due to silt in the river. Trawlers have to wait for the high tide to reach jetty for anchoring.
The project is expected to complete within 90 days from the date of commencement of work. However, the extension would be granted if required depending upon the work.
Captain of Ports James Braganza said that the technical bids and financial bids for dredging have been opened and Western Dredging has been shortlisted for government acceptance.
Margao based Western Dredging and Vasco based Vaibhavi Dredging had qualified for technical bids. However, Vaibhavi quoted Rs 1.89 crore as cost of project while Western quoted Rs 1.79 crore.
“Since Western Dredging were the lowest bidders, the CoP has decided to recommend the agency for acceptance of government,” the official said.
The CoP official said that considering the monsoon season and rough sea conditions it would not be feasible to carry out the work now. The work could commence only in October, after the monsoon when the sea conditions would be favourable.
While the Cutbona boat owners wanted the mouth of the river dredged to facilitate navigation, other villagers apprehended a possible natural calamity and were worried about the bivalves, oysters, and other marine life that would consequently get affected due to the proposed dredging.
The mouth of the Sal River was last dredged three years ago.
A CoP official said that due monsoon season and rough sea conditions it would not be feasible to carry out the work of dredging of River Sal now.
