After many assurances in the past, the Goa government has once again assured the much awaited beautification of the Carambolim Lake near Old Goa, which has been craving for attention for over a decade.
Locals as well as environmentalists no longer have faith in the assurances of the government as promises from different governments and ministers in the past have not turned into reality.
However, the present Water Resource Department Minister Vinod Palyecar, has also assured the beautification of the lake after visiting the site. The local MLA, Pandurang Madkaikar, is also a part of the BJP-led government and the locals the lake is beautified during this tenure.
The scenic Carambolim Lake, which has the largest corridor in the state for local and migratory birds, was waiting to get a green makeover in order to attract the large number of tourists who visit Old Goa churches and the bird lovers.
Ex-Sarpanch of Carambolim Wilson Valladares said the plan to provide a makeover for Carambolim Lake with a conducive setting for roosting of birds and facilities for locals on its fringe to prevent pollution of the lake were announced by the government years ago. He said that along with the beautification there is also need to stop the pollution done to the lake for many years.
“The government has to first make proper acquisition and seek NOC from the Carambolim Communidade as the institute of Communidade is the custodian of the lake and surrounding property”, Valladares said.
Sarpanch of Carambolim Village Panchayat Rajesh Naik said that the process of beautification is already commenced and waiting for the tending process from the government side.
“The exact plan of the beautification will be out soon, as we have resolved for the comprehensive plan including the bird watching towers, retaining wall, widening of road, illumination, etc in the plan”, he said.
Environmentalists have said that the desilting of lake will unbalance the ecology of the lake as large number of species of aquatic and terrestrial animals would be affected.
“There is also a possibility that the disturbed ecology will affect the migratory birds in Carambolim. We want the lake to be used as a tourist destination so that locals may also earn from tourism”, said Prajesh Naik, a local.
