Mapusa river to be desilted from Nov

Panaji: The Captain of Ports (CoP) department said desilting of the Mapusa river along a 5km stretch from the Mapusa highway bridge at Tar to downstream Moira will be taken up in Nov. It will cover 15m in width and reach two metres below the existing depth. The authorities said the operation aims to improve water flow and reduce silt accumulation which contributes to flooding. The dredged silt will be disposed of at designated sites identified by the department. The project is scheduled for completion by Feb 2026.

Roads at Guirim, Bastora, Mapusa and even Sangolda have been flooding for many years during tidal surges and heavy rainfall. Officials said the desilting will be done under strict supervision to ensure minimal disruption to riverine ecology.

Earlier this year, the WRD announced plans for a larger desilting and widening project for the Mapusa river from Guirim to the Tar junction. It sanctioned Rs 41.9 crore for the work, with a time period of 240 days excluding the monsoon.

The two initiatives — one by the WRD and the other by the CoP — are expected to complement each other in easing drainage and flood mitigation along the heavily silted Mapusa river basin.