WRD begins work on de-weeding Mapusa river

Panaji: The water resources department (WRD) on Monday began work on the de-weeding of Mapusa Tar River that has been clogged by the invasive water hyacinth weed.

The work initiated by WRD was launched by Mapusa MLA Joshua D’Souza.

He said that the project worth Rs 10 lakh of removing water hyacinth weeds has begun in keepng with the assurance given by WRD minister Subhash Shirodkar during his visit to the site a month ago.

The river spans the adjoining constituencies of Mapusa and Aldona.

D’Souza said as per the assurance given by him, the Tar bridge has been completed and commisisoned, and now de-weeding has been taken up

“I'm very glad that the works have been commenced by WRD. You are aware that the river was completely clogged. I had met Shirodkar and had also written letters to him, and he had paid heed to our letter,” said Aldona MLA Carlos Alvares Ferreira.

“I would like to thank Shirodkar, he is a dynamic minister. We had also mentioned the issue to the chief minister when he came for the inauguration of the bridge,” Ferreira said, while also thanking the CM for the quick response.

The MLA said that project will cover a total of 9kms length starting from Hotel Green Park in Guirim and going up to Moira and beyond.

He said that flooding has been occuring in Guirim, Bastora and Paliem because of the clogging of the river.

“The water hyacinth is an invasive species that is killing the river. With this, the ecosystem also changes and other types of fish that we cannot eat begin to thrive in the river,” Ferreira said.

Last year, flooding was caused due to the haphazard work of the highway expansion near the Hotel Green Park junction.