MARGAO: Goa is all set to add another three wetlands to the 15 already notified as the Grievance Committee is scheduled to meet in the first fortnight of February to decide the suggestions and objections to the draft notifications to declare 10 more wetlands.
Vide notification dated September 28, 2023 nine lakes were proposed to be declared Wetlands, namely Maimollem in Vasco, Vodle Dhakte in Cortalim, Ambulor in Verna, Kamala Tollem in Benaulim, Oilem Tollem in Chandor, Lamgao Lake in Bicholim, Moingal lake in Shiroda and Bebki and Bachbatt lakes in Raia.
Subsequently, vide notification dated November 23, 2023 the Zuari lake at Cortalim in an area of 1,36,840 sq mts and having 10,00,625 sq mts coming under Zone of Influence was proposed to be declared a wetland.
Since there is no correspondence absolutely with regards to Moingal lake in Shiroda and Lamgao lake in Bicholim, these two are expected to be declared wetlands. All three letters concerning Lagoa de Cima or Oilem Tollem in Chandor are actually supporting the notification and hence this too is likely to be declared a wetland.
Sources disclosed that the Grievance Committee will meet at 3 pm from February 5, 6, 8, 9, 12 and 13 to decide upon the representations made with regard to the eight lakes.
On February 5 it will discuss Ambulor Lake at Verna and Lagoa de Cima at Chandor, while Kamala Tollem in Benaulim and Zuari Lake at Sancoale will be discussed on February 6.
Objections and suggestions pertaining to the two lakes from Raia village, namely Bebki and Bachbatt will be taken up on February 8 while Vodle Dhakte lake at Cortalim will be discussed on February 9.
On February 12 and 13 correspondence pertaining to the only proposed urban wetland namely Maimollem Lake in Vasco will be considered. Incidentally 9 different suggestions/objections have been filed with regards to this lake.
The Grievance Committee has retired Judge Desmond D’Costa as chairperson and GSWA Member Secretary, who is Director for Environment as the co-chairperson. Member Secretary of Goa State Biodiversity Board is the Convener and Adv Sapana Mordekar is a member.
