Cortalim MLA Antonio Vas has raised strong objections to a reported proposal seeking to convert land around Zuari Lake into a settlement zone, warning that the move poses a serious ecological threat to one of Goa’s vital water bodies.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Engineer of the Water Resources Department (WRD), Vas alleged that the proposal is linked to Zuari Industries Ltd (ZIL) and Paradeep Phosphates Ltd (PPL). He cautioned that such a conversion could lead to irreversible environmental damage, including loss of biodiversity and degradation of the lake’s water quality.
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Vas further emphasized that the project could jeopardize local water security, affecting surrounding communities that depend on the lake’s ecosystem. To safeguard the area, he urged the government to notify Zuari Lake as a protected wetland under the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, which would restrict construction and encroachment in the ecologically sensitive zone.
The MLA also appealed to the Sancoale Panchayat and local residents to collectively oppose the proposed settlement plan, highlighting the need for long-term environmental conservation over short-term commercial interests. Vas reiterated his commitment to protecting Goa’s fragile coastal ecosystems from unsustainable development.
