Multiple sources continue to add to Sal's pollution
Colva: River Sal, often referred to as the lifeline of Salcete, was once a vital source of livelihood and biodiversity. Today, it has become a dumping ground for garbage, releasing sewage and other waste. Now, multiple sources of waste are seen contributing to the pollution of the river as it winds through Salcete.
For years, environmentalists and locals have raised alarms about River Sal’s deteriorating condition.
Alarmingly, the sewage treatment plant at Shirvodem, Margao, has been repeatedly blamed for releasing untreated effluents into the river.
Another significant contributor to this environmental decline is the wholesale fish market at Seraulim. Large quantities of spoiled or waste fish often find their way into nearby ponds or directly into the river. In addition, the Styrofoam baskets used to transport fish and ice are seen carelessly discarded into the water.
“The damage affects the very heart of ecology, ponds, flora, fauna and the communities that depend on them. Without a coordinated and urgent response from both local bodies and state authorities, this river and many other water bodies around it will face a slow but certain death,” said a panchayat member.
Sal’s tributaries are choked with water hyacinth, an invasive aquatic weed that spreads rapidly in stagnant, nutrient-rich water. This thick green cover blocks sunlight from penetrating the surface, disrupting photosynthesis in native aquatic plants and depleting oxygen levels, often resulting in fish deaths and threatening the fragile aquatic ecosystem.
Yet, despite the visible consequences, the water resources department (WRD) has no targeted plan to combat the spread of water hyacinth. A WRD official said that the department acts only upon receiving resolutions from local panchayats. Even then, action is dependent on technical feasibility and budget constraints.
For a panchayat to pass a resolution on the cleaning of desilting a pond a collective request must be made by a group of farmers, which is then discussed in the civic body meetings and later at the gram sabha.
For years, environmentalists and locals have raised alarms about River Sal’s deteriorating condition.
Alarmingly, the sewage treatment plant at Shirvodem, Margao, has been repeatedly blamed for releasing untreated effluents into the river.
Another significant contributor to this environmental decline is the wholesale fish market at Seraulim. Large quantities of spoiled or waste fish often find their way into nearby ponds or directly into the river. In addition, the Styrofoam baskets used to transport fish and ice are seen carelessly discarded into the water.
“The damage affects the very heart of ecology, ponds, flora, fauna and the communities that depend on them. Without a coordinated and urgent response from both local bodies and state authorities, this river and many other water bodies around it will face a slow but certain death,” said a panchayat member.
Sal’s tributaries are choked with water hyacinth, an invasive aquatic weed that spreads rapidly in stagnant, nutrient-rich water. This thick green cover blocks sunlight from penetrating the surface, disrupting photosynthesis in native aquatic plants and depleting oxygen levels, often resulting in fish deaths and threatening the fragile aquatic ecosystem.
Yet, despite the visible consequences, the water resources department (WRD) has no targeted plan to combat the spread of water hyacinth. A WRD official said that the department acts only upon receiving resolutions from local panchayats. Even then, action is dependent on technical feasibility and budget constraints.
For a panchayat to pass a resolution on the cleaning of desilting a pond a collective request must be made by a group of farmers, which is then discussed in the civic body meetings and later at the gram sabha.
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