PANJIM: The Benaulim Residents Consumers Forum has urged the government to beautify the picturesque lake Voddlem Tollem at Grande Pedda, Benaulim to preserve the local ecology.
In a letter sent to the State government, the Benaulim Residents Consumers Forum president Ciriaco Barretto has asked for beautification of Voddlem Tollem, which is known for its rich flora viz different kinds of lotus, in particular a rare and beautiful large purple lotus known to grow in only two places in India – West Bengal and Goa.
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Voddlem Tollem is one such place where these lotuses are found. But these are now getting extinct due to pollution, according to the Forum members.
“The State government had declared this lake as part of wetlands, but not regulated the conditions of wetlands needed to be applied on it, Barretto stated in his letter, urging the government to maintain this water body.
“The lake is now covered by a thick and dense layer of wild grass and weed which is slowly choking up the open spaces and destroying the flowers. This also has hindered the growth of several species of fish such as dadi, pintol, canare, horcho commonly consumed by local people. These fishes are almost extinct,” the letter stated.
