Green study on for dredging of two rivers

PANAJI: The National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Dona Paula, is carrying out an environment impact assessment (EIA) study on the proposed dredging at the mouth of the Galgibaga and Talpona rivers in Canacona. NIO is expected to submit the study at the end of this month, the state government said, in a reply tabled at the ongoing assembly session. It has been a long-pending demand of locals that dredging of the rivers be carried out.
The process for an EIA for the dredging work began after former South Goa MP Narendra Sawaikar and Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes asked for the work to be carried out, the reply in the assembly stated.
Local fishermen had raised concerns in recent months over the narrowing of the Talpona river mouth and largescale silting of the adjoining bay. They fear that when heavy rainfall is received, it may lead to flooding of low-lying houses. Over 20 years ago, the river mouth was quite wide but over time it has narrowed gradually due to sand deposits.
Following the flash floods in October 2009 in Canacona, both rivers, Galgibaga and Talpona, changed course due to extremely heavy rainfall, as it led to largescale deposits of silt. Since the disaster, the two rivers have only been partly dredged in upstream areas. Heavy rains could lead to a situation of rising water levels in low-lying areas, causing fears of a similar flood.