Team Herald
PANJIM: Declared as a wetland in 2022, Goa State Wetland Authority (GSWA), the Bondvol Lake, St Cruz’s crowning glory is under threat with environmentalists and social activists on Thursday expressing concerns over the alleged deforestation carried out in the lake’s buffer zone for construction purposes.
They pointed out that the deforestation is taking place despite the declaration made under the 2017 Central Government Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules.
Speaking to reporters, environmentalist Elsa Fernandes said, “Bondvol is a freshwater lake. It is in danger. It is a lake and a lake is not created just due its location, but areas surrounding it also play an important role. We have something called a catchment area and any lake cannot survive without the catchment. Bondvol has to survive with its catchment area. It is unimaginable that some human being is interfering with this catchment area of the lake without realising that the catchment area can catch water only if there are trees.”
“If we disturb the network of water soaking then the springs in the lake bed will dry. There is a need to understand that construction is becoming like cancer which has reached the doors of Bondvol. I request the people of St Cruz to protect the lake as they have done in the past,” she said.
Vincent Fernandes, President of Calapur Comunidade, said, “We have demanded a 200-metre buffer zone. If construction takes place then we will not receive water. Water from this lake is used for irrigation. If this lake dries then agriculture will be finished.”
Activist Rama Kankonkar said the builders from outside the state are hell bent on destroying the lake. He said it is surprising that the local panchayat is not aware of the development while the same panchayat issues notices if someone wishes to carry out some construction work in their house. Another activist, Anna Gracious said," It really pains that the properties nearby have been sold. The catchment area is like a sponge which absorbs water. If it is destroyed then how will the biodiversity be saved? I urge the people of St Cruz to rise and set an example by saving it."
Activist Xencor Polgi said if the people of St Cruz do not come forward to save the lake now, then those days are not far when the situation of St Cruz will be like that of Sancoale.
“Dhargal, Pernem and Mandrem have been destroyed. Mhadei has been sold. Now the government is trying to snatch sources of drinking water from us. It is the responsibility of the government to save the environment,” he said.
However, it is not for the first time that the activists have raised concern over the deterioration of the catchment area of the lake. Earlier, the people of Santa Cruz had tried every avenue to save their village’s crowning glory, Bondvol Lake, a 110-year-old natural reservoir that collects rain and spring water over a 9.365-hectare submergence basin.