------------------------------------------------------------------------- Support the GOACAN 2009 Campaign for Total Sanitation & Toilets for all Consumers in Goa. Circulate this email to your family members, relatives, neighbours and friends. Help others be BETTER INFORMED ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Signature campaign on to save River Sal ------------------------------------------ Rajeshree Nagarsekar, TNN
The Navelim Civic and Consumer Forum has commenced a signature campaign to save Salcete's lifeline, the river Sal, which they fear is degrading rapidly. The river whose basin area is 301 sq km, opens near Cavelossim and passes through Margao and the villages of Chinchinim, Navelim, Assolna, before draining itself into the Arabian Sea at Betul. Forum members say the river is dying on account of the huge volumes of raw sewage and garbage being dumped into it. They insist the tributaries have been reduced to putrid drains. "Despite approaching every government authority only cosmetic measures have been adopted," environment activist Siddhart Karapurkar told TOI. He added that the issue has been raised repeatedly since the last two decades. Following repeated complaints last month (including a letter in Pillar to Post, February 27), the Goa State Pollution Board conducted an inspection of the river. The report of the tests conducted on the river water's samples are, however, awaited. "The report is almost ready and has been sent for approval. It should be ready by March 23," said Sanjiv Joglekar, assistant environment engineer. GSPCB is also expected to advice the government on planning a comprehensive programme for prevention and control of river pollution. Meanwhile, the forum has approached health authorities in Margao, Curtorim and the directorate of health services too. "We've also approached the Margao Municipal Council, PWD, water resources department, department of science, technology and environment and the district magistrate. But no action has come from any corner," lamented forum secretary Joseph Vaz. Activist Melwyn Periera complained that wells in almost all the villages doting the river have been contaminated. "Our wells carry disease-bearing water. Leaking septic tanks and other sources of sewage has caused the contamination of groundwater. The livelihood of our farmers and cultivators is at stake," Pereira alleged. Recently, the Navelim gram sabha passed a resolution seeking immediate intervention of the government to dredge and clean the river. It also demanded plugging of raw sewage let into the drain by residential colonies. Warning of starting an agitation against the authority's failure to save the dying river, the forum has also demanded a probe into the non compliance of the PWD order to disconnect water connections to 7 buildings found to be letting out water into the drain. Most authorities TOI contacted, however, failed to divulge any information on the issue due to the election code of conduct. "Our concern is to restore the river and its water quality so that the river once again begins to meet the aspirations of all those who not only revere it but are also dependent on it," Karapurkar said. ------------------------------- Times of India 20/3/09 page 2 ------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ GOA CIVIC AND CONSUMER ACTION NETWORK ----------------------------------------------------------- promoting civic and consumer rights in Goa ----------------------------------------------------------- GOACAN Post Box 187 Margao, Goa 403 601 GOACAN Post Box 78 Mapusa, Goa 403 507 mailto: [email protected] ----------------------------------------------------------
