PANJIM: World Wetland Day turned propitious for Goa as17 more water bodies in the State are set to be declared as ‘Wetlands’ as per the Union Environment Ministry’s rule apart from 11 listed by Goa.
On the occasion of World Wetland Day, the Secretary Environment IAS Kunal said, Goa has put eleven water bodies into draft notification as wetlands. “Once public consultation is over and decision is made, the final notification will be issued,” he said.
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Kunal further added that 17 more water bodies are coming up for draft notification as identified by the Technical Committee of the Goa State Wetland Authority (GSWA). These water bodies shortlisted this time are considered to be “critically significant” for its ecosystem service and biodiversity values for the local communities and society at large.
Bondvoll Lake in St Cruz was the first to be declared as a ‘Wetland’. The draft notification is issued in case of Toyaar Lake (Chimbel), Carambolim Lake (Carambolim), Batim Lake (Batim), Dhasi Lake (Rivona), Pilerne Lake (Pilerne), Sarzora Lake (Sarzora), Durga Lake (Chinchinim), Cottambi Lake and Nanda Lake (Curchorem) and Xeldem Lake (Quepem).
The more water bodies that would be included are Sulabhat Lake (Agassaim), Talaulim lake (Talaulim), Tarvalem Lake and Udden Lake (Shiroda), Mayem Lake (Bicholim), Curtorim Lake (Curtorim), Sonbem Lake (Maina), Macazana Lake (Macazana), Comunidade Lake (Guirdolim), Ambulor Lake (Verna), Kamla Tollem (Benaulim), Orlim Tollem (Orlim), Sancoale Lake (Sancoale) and Pali Lake (Quepem).
With regards to water bodies like Curca Lake, Malebhat, Gawali–Moula and Canturlim (Curca), Banastarim Wetland (Bhoma), Parra Lake (Parra), Benaulim Lake- Vodlem Tollem and Dhakte Tollem (Benaulim), Sapu Tollem (Velim) and Maimollem Lake (Maimollem), the government is in process of preparing brief documents.
