Water collected to be taken to National War Memorial in Delhi
NCC cadets carrying the water from the River Sal at Assolna on Wednesday.
MARGAO
Commanding Officer of Goa NCC, Col Jesus Furtado, and cadets descended on the banks of the River Sal at Assolna on Wednesday, but for a unique reason.
While the Indian Navy Ship INS Tarangini was docked at Mormugao Port, Col Jesus and his NCC cadets arrived at Assolna to collect water from the River Sal, the lifeline of Salcete, to carry it to the National War Memorial in Delhi for the Republic Day celebrations.
This is perhaps the first time water from a river in Goa is being collected and taken to the National War Memorial. Among all the rivers in Goa, the River Sal has been chosen by the Defence Ministry and the Director General of NCC for its cultural and historical significance. Its water will be carried to the National War Memorial during the Republic Day celebrations in January 2025.
The water collected from the River Sal was blessed by priests from the Assolna Church and the local temple in the presence of the village sarpanch, Ivan Fernandes, and others.
On Thursday, Col Jesus and the NCC cadets will hand over the utensil containing the water from the River Sal to officers aboard the Indian Navy ship INS Tarangini at Mormugao Port, before the ship embarks on a special voyage along the country’s coastline.
Col Jesus told The Goan that every year, the Indian Navy collects water from rivers across the country’s western, southern, and eastern regions, from Porbandar in Gujarat to the Hooghly River in West Bengal.
“It is a matter of pride that the River Sal in Goa has been chosen by the Defence Ministry and DG NCC for its cultural and historical significance. This year, its water will be carried by the NCC cadets of Goa aboard INS Tarangini to the National War Memorial for Republic Day 2025 in New Delhi. It is the only river from Goa selected among the many rivers across the country,” Col Jesus told The Goan.
Highlighting the historical and cultural importance of the River Sal, Col Jesus recalled that it once served as a major route for importing Mangalore tiles into Goa at Khareband. “The River Sal has not only provided a variety of fish for local fishermen but also acted as a key transportation route for tiles and other goods centuries ago,” he said.
He added, “The INS Tarangini has already collected water from rivers in Gujarat and Maharashtra. The ship is currently docked at Mormugao Port. After collecting water from the River Sal, it will sail to Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal, collecting water from rivers along the route.”
