Colva: A thick layer of water hyacinth, the invasive weed that has long choked the Sal river, has once again washed up along Mobor-Cavelossim beach, covering large stretches of the shoreline with decaying vegetation and raising concern among residents and authorities. The wash-up mirrors a similar episode in 2023, when hyacinth that had drifted into the Arabian Sea was pushed back onto Mobor beach by strong monsoon tides and currents.Panchayat officials said work is underway to clear the accumulated weed from the beach, with around 30% of the clean-up still remaining.Locals said the weed is carried downstream through the Sal river’s outlet at the Cutbona jetty near Betul before monsoon-driven sea currents sweep it back towards the coast, where it accumulates along the beach.While the movement temporarily clears parts of the river, it creates a fresh problem onshore. The dense blanket of hyacinth begins to rot, producing a foul smell that residents fear will worsen unless the vegetation is removed quickly.Cavelossim sarpanch Dixon Vaz attributed the build-up to strong monsoon currents. He said he had raised the issue with the tourism department, following which labourers and vehicles were deployed to clear the affected stretch. “Around 30% of the work is still pending,” he said.A water resources department official said hyacinth had been removed from nearly 4km of the Sal river before the monsoon but acknowledged that the weed remains a recurring problem during the rainy season, as swollen river flows and tidal movement carry it downstream.Residents of Benaulim and nearby villages have been demanding a permanent solution for years. Although desilting of the river was carried out in 2019, locals alleged the hyacinth was not removed comprehensively, allowing it to continue spreading.Following the latest wash-up on Mobor beach, residents and environmentalists have renewed calls for a long-term strategy to control the invasive weed and prevent repeated damage to the Sal river and the coastline.
The dense blanket of hyacinth has begun to rot, producing a foul smell that residents say will intensify unless the vegetation is removed quickly
