Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, May 6: Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, along with Water Resources Development (WRD) Minister Subhash Shirodkar and senior officials, reviewed the ongoing Rs 46-crore Mapusa river rejuvenation project at Guirim on Tuesday.

The project, which focuses on desilting and river restoration, aims to prevent waterlogging in Guirim and Mapusa during prolonged heavy rainfall. Low-lying areas such as St Anthony Vaddo and surroundings of Hotel Green Park in Mapusa have frequently faced flooding when the river overflows, disrupting normal life and traffic.

Officials said the project, scheduled for completion in November, is progressing on track. With the monsoon approaching, the chief minister directed authorities to expedite desilting work, remove excess silt, and clear encroachments obstructing the natural flow of rainwater into the river.

“During the rains, fields in Guirim get submerged and the river’s course becomes indistinct. With this desilting work, we have rejuvenated around 4.5 km stretch of the river,” Sawant said.

The project spans a 4.5-km stretch from Guirim to the national highway bridge at Tar junction and has been awarded to Bagkiya Construction Pvt Ltd.

Key measures include construction of embankment bunds along both riverbanks, installation of sluice and flap gates at 200-metre intervals to prevent backflow during high tide, and a composite laterite wall to strengthen the banks.

Additionally, a dedicated sluice gate will help isolate floodwaters from the Guirim catchment area, while a high-capacity pumping system capable of discharging 3,000 cubic metres per hour is expected to further enhance flood control measures.