PONDA: Few decades ago, drinking water from community well, ponds, springs in the villages of Ponda Taluka were the important sources of domestic water consumption but after the government started distribution of drinking water through pipelines many people started gradually neglecting the traditional sources of water that pushed them to the verge of choking to nonexistence.
However, after the formation of Village Biodiversity Committees at every village panchayat level, the efforts are started to protect the biodiversity.
The Curti-Khandepar Village Biodiversity Committee (BMC) is one such committee which since past three years took the initiative to revive the community ponds, water resources at Kerya with support of the villagers and revived it with new lease of life which was almost choked with mud, rain silt and on verge of extinct. BMC Member Rocky Dias said, “There is government scheme but even before we get the government money we started on our own. Beside that we used the prize money we get towards best VBC from government on revival of traditional pond at Kerya.”
The villagers along with labourers contributed their hard work to clean the pond.
Dias said, “There is need for awareness for revival of traditional source of water.”
“Beside Kerya pond, we also repaired another two springs which are source of water for the villagers. The government selected our BMC as one of best BMC and has also given prize,” Dias said.
This water is not only used for irrigation for bagayats but also useful for domestic use when there is shortage of water due to pipeline burst or breakdown at Opa plant.
He appealed to the Goans to revive the traditional ponds, wells and springs so that at the time of emergency we are not forced to run from pillar to post to fetch water as the villages’ water resources if revived would meet our water requirement at time of shortage of water.