JULIO D’SILVA
julio@herald-goa.com
Talsamzor in Aquem Margao is all set to regain its past glory if TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai has his way. The spring will once again commence gurgling with locals and Goans making a beeline to it to take a shower as used to happen in the past.
At present, the spring is a sad sight as water only trickles down and even if the stick that is stuck to the pipe is pulled, water does not come in a gust but just trickles down. In the past, the spring was the favourite haunt of many people who would visit it to beat off the summer heat.
The cause for the depletion of the flow of water is attributed to the many illegal encroachments on Comunidade land that have occurred upstream. In fact various politicians who ruled over Margao have contributed to the illegal encroachments where people have built houses and some are even double storeyed bungalows.
The Communidade of Margao had filed a case against some of the illegal encroachments and even won it and the houses were to be demolished. However, thanks to one politician who prevailed upon the then government, the PWD has appealed against the order and the matter is now pending in the High Court.
Former chief minister Digambar Kamat had earlier carried out some beautification of the spring where a changing room was constructed besides building steps to lead to the spring. However, these have not been maintained and the changing room has become living quarters for insects and worms while the steps are overrun with wild growth. Even the few benches that were erected have since collapsed.
Margao Comunidade Attorney Celestino Noronha, while lamenting the sorry state of the spring, opined that the government could improve it provided it took some action against the illegal encroachers who, according to him, have diverted the flow of water to the spring due to which the flow is affected.
Vijai Sardesai agrees that the flow of water to the spring has been adversely affected probably due to the constructions upstream. However, he insisted that the block or diversion of the flow has to be identified first so that it can be acted upon.
“One has to first find the cause of the decline in water flow and to do that we have to investigate and that is exactly what I wish to do first,” he said.
He assured to take the Margao Comunidade and other interested parties into confidence but asked that the spring be restored back to what it originally was so that Margao can have its own place to relax particularly during the hot summer months.
Meanwhile Arthur D’Silva, Margao Municipal Councillor representing the area, welcomed the decision to clean up the spring but insisted that security has to be provided at the spring to ensure that it is not misused and abused like it happens at present.
He remembered going to the spring in his childhood when it was surrounded with cashew, jambool and cocum trees where they, as children, would play and how the entire family used to enjoy. “I remember seeing people taking water from the spring in bottles to wash their eyes at home as it was supposed to have medicinal properties,” he said.
Arthur was of the opinion that about 10 mts upstream something is chocking the flow of water and that needs to be cleared and insisted on having security personnel at the spring at all times to ensure its proper usage and no further destruction.
