Valpoi water bodies in need of desilting before monsoon

Residents fear nullahs could turn into mosquito breeding sites

Valpoi: With hardly two months left for the monsoon season to begin, the cleaning of water bodies such as small rivulets and nullahs (streams) are yet to get government attention in Valpoi and other parts of Sattari.

As per available information, if desilting of these water bodies needs to be done before monsoon, then the civic body should send their proposal to the water resources department (WRD), while panchayat bodies need to update the proposal with the block development officer (BDO). Meanwhile, an official source informed this daily that no such proposal has been put forward till date to them from the civic body. It is understood that around 4 to 5 water bodies, including a nullah in the main market area, are chosen for desilting every year. As per the records of WRD, the estimate comes around `5 lakhs, while double that amount is required in the panchayat area.

“Mapping water bodies during monsoon, ban on releasing sewage in nullahs, an audit on construction sites across the water bodies, and improved storm water drainage system are some of the points which the government must take into consideration, which may lower the yearly cost of desilting these water bodies all over the state,” said one expert. In the summer, these water bodies lose their flowing capacity leading to the water remaining stagnant, and with pouring of domestic waste into these nullahs, it slowly turns into a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Pointing towards the nullah which is slowly turning into a mosquito breeding site, a resident said, “Maintaining and cleaning of the nullahs, which eventually join the river, should be a top priority for the state government if they want to have pollution free water bodies.” He further said that the problem should be solved from where they originate, and hence the nullahs should be cleaned before they join the river.

Another expert said that the nullahs run in the town for about 2km and they need to be mapped on a priority basis so that a proper plan can be developed for improving the present situation, especially when the garden beside this nullah is getting a facelift. “I think if we maintain cleanliness along this nullah and design a walkway along the nullah with proper lighting, the site will never be in this state. Besides, there must be strong laws from the civic body against the uncontrolled discharge of sewage into this nullah” said a resident of Valpoi.