TEAM HERALD
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
PANJIM: The Bondval Lake, owned by Comunidade of Calapur would be acquired by State government by initiating land acquisition proceedings through agriculture department shortly, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar announced on the Floor of the House on Friday.
Parrikar said that in the interest of farmers, who are currently facing problem as the water in the lake has dried out, the water body would be acquired by government. He said that tenant Keshav D’ Souza, presently owns the tenancy right of 550 sq mtr area of the lake, which would be taken over by the government.
“It is a beautiful lake, which needs to be developed and maintained,” he said, while replying during Question Hour. The total area of the water body is 21,350 sq mtrs.
The question was tabled by St Cruz MLA Atanasio alias Babush Monserrate, who brought to the notice of the House that the water body, which was formed during Portuguese regime to carry out agricultural activities, has dried out.
“The government had issued a work order for the development of the lake, which was stayed by Session Court, following complaint filed by Keshav D’Souza,” he said. The order, which restrained water resources department to carry out any work in the water body and its surrounding area, was passed in October 2011.
He said that the decision of the Court has hit farming activity and no efforts have been made by the government to challenge the order of the Court.
Leader of Opposition Pratapsing Rane informed the House that the Comunidade of Calapur, in the past had passed a resolution to hand over the water body to state government.
