New river cleaning project approved in Goa to cut pollution effect

New Delhi, February 4: With the agenda of abating pollution in River Sal at Navelim tower, the Centre has sanctioned a new project in Goa. The project was has been sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs.61.74 crore. The project will help in reduction of pollution load in the river and improvement in its water quality, besides improving the environment and sanitation in the town.

 

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had earlier in 2015 identified the river stretch at Navelim as one of the 302 polluted river stretches across the country based on Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels, a key indicator of organic pollution showing water quality.

Cost of the project, covering setting up sewage treatment facilities and sewer network, will be shared equally between the Centre and state government. Both the Centre and State will share the cost on 60:40 bases.

The project was approved by the environment ministry under its National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) which covers 31 rivers (other than Ganga and its tributaries) in 14 states. The pollution abatement measures for Ganga are being managed separately under the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) of the water resources ministry. The Sal river cleaning project will reduce pollution and improve water quality and sanitation in Navelim town. The main focus is to take up the polluted river stretches one-by-one for cleaning under a comprehensive plan in other states as well.

Although pollution abatement effort under the NRCP is an old programme, the environment ministry has recently approved a new 'basin management' approach to conserve and clean rivers, unlike the existing strategy where conservation is limited only to tackling pollution load from domestic wastewater and regulation of industrial pollution.

Under the new approach, the projects will take care of entire catchment area of the river through multiple measures including rejuvenation of lakes and wetlands, construction of a small-check dam to ensure continuous water flow and afforestation. Around 32 kms of sewers will be laid and sewage treatment plant of 3 million litres per day has been constructed. The project is scheduled for completion by January, 2021.