The Goa State Wetland Authority (GSWA) has taken steps to identify and safeguard the state’s crucial water bodies. Under the directives of the Wetland Conservation and Management Rule 2017, the GSWA has commissioned the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) to survey and furnish information about 550 potential wetlands, including lakes, across Goa.
Since 2019, the NIO, guided by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), has been identifying these wetlands. Now, the GSWA seeks detailed insights into these water bodies, including their distribution across forest and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas, as well as specific categories such as mining quarries and temple lakes, aligning with wetland classification criteria.
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Recent reports indicate that the GSWA has initiated correspondence with the Forest Department and the Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA), directing them to formulate action plans for the preservation and management of the identified water bodies falling under their jurisdiction.
Moreover, the Revenue Department has been tasked with documenting the notified wetland areas on Land Records, specifically forms I and XIV. Currently, approximately forty wetlands have received official notification.
Notably, the GSWA has established Lake Management Committees to oversee the governance and conservation of the identified wetlands. Comprising local community members from respective areas where these wetlands are situated, these committees aim to prioritize the preservation of lakes recognized as wetlands.
