Originating from the Western Ghats, the Valvanti River, which is one of the most important lifelines of Sattari and Bicholim talukas, has been dying a slow death.
Local activists claim that unplanned development activities, construction of retaining walls on either sides of the river to prevent flooding, destruction of natural vegetation, use of explosives to kill fish, washing of clothes with soaps and detergents, release of untreated sewage water and dumping of garbage have polluted the river.
In the absence of garbage disposal facilities in Poriem, Morlem and Keri panchayats, villagers dump garbage into the river, which is dying a slow death on account of dumping of plastic and other non-biodegradable waste in it, says Vishnu Sawant, a social activist.
Former Poriem panch Gurudas Gaonkar said, “A large number of people could face drinking water shortage and irrigation could also get affected in Bicholim, Bardez and Sattari talukas, if the Government fails to protect the Valvanti River.
This river supplies water to the 40 MLD Padoshem and 20 MLD Sankhali water treatment plants and faces a threat due to contamination of water bodies in Poriem, complained Gaonkar.
In Poriem, a dairy farm-cum-nursery has been discharging chemical, urine and cow dung into the river in Poriem since the past decade. Villagers are using this river water for domestic purpose and have demanded that the panchayat take action against the dairy farm-cum-nursery.
Recently, the locals raised the issue of Valvanti River at the gram sabha and claimed that the dairy farm-cum-nursery is illegal as the owner has not obtained an NOC from the panchayat.
“We have issued the notice to the owner of dairy farm-cum-nursery and have sought a reply within a week, says Atmaram Shetye, Sarpanch of Poriem Panchayat.
