MARGAO: Citing 32 reasons why the field in front of the Colva church should be saved from being filled up to make way for the proposed football ground, the Colva church has said that the acquisition of the field was done without proper study on ecology and environment.
The controversial proposal to fill up the field for the football ground, which has been a subject of debate in the village over the last couple of months, found a mention in the January issue of the Colva Church bulletin, with the Church coming out with 32 reasons why the field should be left untouched. “This project will badly affect the sanctity of the church at Colva. It is a natural water body. It is a full catchment area. It has the potential to create inundations and floods if it is filled up with soil or mud”, the bulletin said, while asserting that the field is indeed a rich low-lying field.
“This field itself is the main drainage. Hence, artificial drains will destroy this rich field and the other fields towards the South: it will be a big crime and murder, if these drains are constructed, it will be a great ecological disaster”, it said.
Saying that the field is a god-given gift to Colva, the bulletin said more and more people are now accepting the real truth which was hidden. “The Colva church was full of people who prayed to god on December 16 for the preservation and protection of the field. They also took part in the candle-lit procession near the field and sought divine help to save the field. The Biodiversity Board is for the full protection of the field. Many lotuses were seen in this water body. Its rich flora and fauna have to be protected. Local birds and migratory birds regularly visit this field. Comunidade records clearly show that this field is known as Alagoa de Bonzale (alagoa means lake)”, the bulletin said, adding that experts who have carried out studies on the hydrological and other implications have come out in favour of the protection of the field.
