Photo Credit: wikimedia
The third largest river in Goa, the Sal River is based in South Goa and starts in Cavelossim. It is one of the nine major rivers of Goa and all of these rivers add to the Goan economy due to their impact on fishing and trade. It passes through Margao, Dramapur, Chinchinim, Navelim, Assolna, before leading into the Arabian Sea at Betul in Goa. Despite having a catchment area that is only one third the size of the Zuari River, it hasn’t received much attention from the government. The Sal River measures 35 kilometers in length and has a basin size of 301 square kilometers.

The Sal River is the life line to the Salcete taluka. The Salcete is made up of an area of approximately 300 square kilometers which is linked to the Sal River. Being the only river that flows in a north-south direction prior to flowing in to the Arabian Sea at Betul, the Sal River is a geologically odd one because it runs parallel to the west of geological coast.

Sal River opens in Cavelossim, which is a town in Southern Goa and is home to one of the best known beaches in Goa. This is the Salcete beach, which beings in Majorda in the Northern part of the town and ends at Cavelossim in the South. It is at the Southern part of the town that the Sal River flows into the Arabian Sea.

Heavy siltation and water pollution has in recent years, often stopped fishing vessels from moving into the sea. The fishermen in the area feel that this issue, which is rampant at the Sal River’s mouth at Betul, should be taken up by the Indian government on an urgent basis. Drainage management in the area will not succeed if it doesn’t respect the river basin, its hydrography and doesn’t take into consideration the eco-restoration of the heavily silted and polluted channel between Magao’s Khareband all the way to Betul.
Read more…