Barrage at the site was meant to treat water with aeration in order to clean water, and make it fit for irrigation
The barrage built on the river Sal near the wholesale fish market on the border of Margao and Seraulim.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Rampant discharge of untreated sewage water, besides leachate water from the wholesale fish market threatens to drown the ambitious river Sal rejuvenation project initiated near the fish market two years ago.
With the avowed objective of restoring the pristine glory of River Sal, the lifeline of Salcete, the barrage proposed across the river Sal near the wholesale fish market is in place, and so are the floating aerators. Sadly, the discharge of untreated sewage water in the city, besides the leachate and waste water from the wholesale fish market has only raised questions on the effectiveness of the rejuvenation project.
Consider this. A year ago, the Water Resources Department (WRD) had built the barrage on the river Sal near the wholesale fish market as part of the river rejuvenation plan. The barrage was planned at the site in order to treat the water with aeration in order to clean the water, and to make it fit for irrigation. The barrage project, however, evoked strong objection from the farmers of neighbouring Seraulim village after the river water mixed with sewage inundated their paddy fields, contaminating the water and posing health risks for the farming community, only prompting the WRD officials to open the barrage gates.
That’s not all. As part of the project, the WRD has installed floating aerators in the river near the barrage to clean up the water. The aerators have been operating on diesel for certain parts of the day for want of power supply to the site. The continuous discharge of sewage as well as the untreated waste water and leachate from the adjoining wholesale fish market, however, has only put a question mark on the effectiveness of the aeration project.
A senior WRD official pointed out that the WRD has executed the barrage and aeration project at the river Sal as per the ambitious river Sal rejuvenation project, but the unabated flow of sewage and waste water into the river has come in the way of the success of the project. “Aeration of the water has helped to control the foul odour. But, for cent per cent results, the flow of sewage has to stop. The untreated waste water flow from the wholesale fish market should also stop”, the official said.
He added: “WRD officials have communicated with officials of the Sewerage Infrastructure Development Corporation of Goa Ltd as well as the PWD, sewerage in this respect. They have promised that the sewage flow into the river near the wholesale fish market should stop when the North Main Trunk is commissioned before the onset of monsoons”.
River Sal rejuvenation project (subhead)
In reply to a question tabled by Margao MLA Digambar Kamat on the steps taken by the government to rejuvenate and maintain clean water in River Sal during the last five years, Water Resources Department Minister Subhash Shirodkar had on February 6, 2024 replied that the department has carried out desk studies on the said river, worked on hydrology, hydraulics, soil erosion, groundwater and improvement to earthen banks etc to improve the ground/surface water , flood control and bank erosion.
Holistic approach is worked out to be implemented in phases. In the first phase:- Improve the hydraulics of the river by desilting and improving the water way. Works are: -
*First phase: Rejuvenation of the Sal river for a length of 19.77 Km by restoring the river bed, desilting/removal of deposited silt/garbage of river and its tributaries to enhance the carrying capacity of the river.
*Second Phase: - Improving water quality: Construction of storage structure near fish market with automated gate to hold the water within the river. The spread/stored water is aerated by floating aerators to improve the DO (Dissolved Oxygen) to reduce the BOD (Biological oxygen demand) and improve physical parameters such as turbidity, colour, odour and providing Bio beds.
The role of barrage and
aerators near fish market
While launching the project two years ago on January 21, 2023, WRD Chief Engineer Badani said the project entails pumping of 680 cubic metre of air every hour in the river as per the requirement. No chemicals will be used in the rejuvenation considering the presence of fish in the river.
The river will be desilted right from the wholesale fish market to the Verna lake, along with the four tributaries.
The entire watershed of River Sal will be put in order in two years line. This is the commencement of the river Sal rejuvenation project.
Under this project, barrage will be built with mechanical gates, which will open and close automatically. The water quality will be monitored on a daily basis by a technical team.
The flushing of water will improve the water quality and help restore the river Sal to its pristine glory.
