Panaji: As a flood prevention measure, the captain of ports (CoP) has finally initiated the process to desilt a 2.8km stretch of the Bicholim river. A private agency will be tasked with dredging a 15m-wide portion of the river channel to increase the depth of the river by 1.5m.The dredging, which was proposed in Oct 2024, has to be completed within three months, said CoP officials.“The desilting work is within the locality in the Bicholim river near Baagwada, Piligao. The flow of the river gets obstructed due to soil erosion, debris and rejected material from the mines, and siltation brought down through the storm water drains causing flooding in the area as there is no proper flow of rain water,” said an official.Depth recordings through soundings of the Bicholim river, indicate that the depth has reduced considerably and is less than half a metre.“Govt desires to maintain a depth of more than 1.5m from the existing depth to prevent the incidences of flooding during monsoons. Therefore, it is proposed to carry out the desilting within the locality of the area,” says a document from the CoP.The CoP has floated a tender to appoint a contractor who will bring in a dredging vessel and hydrographic survey vessels and equipment and complete the dredging. It will levy a penalty of Rs 10,000 on the contractor for each day of delay beyond 90 days.The 2024 proposal to dredge the Bicholim river at Piligao has been delayed due to slow financial approvals and the need to complete an environmental impact assessment (EIA).“The dredging of the river was proposed on Oct 15, 2024, and submitted to the CoP by the office of the chief engineer, water resources department, in April 2025,” said a source.Mayem MLA Premendra Shet had asked govt to desilt the river before this year’s monsoons.
