St Cruz residents have objected the massive hill cutting at the edge of the Bondvol Lake which is a threat not only to the environment but also the lake. The villagers are bent on protecting the lake which they see as major source of water but the government authorities have failed to intervene and stop the illegal hill cutting.
The concerned citizens last week had complained to the flying squad and stopped the hill cutting which was carried out by the private builder for an access to the hill. The inspection of the same is schedule on Tuesday by the deputy collector.
The villagers have also objected the development in the periphery of the lake stating it will pollute the water body. Arturo D’Souza, a local resident who is leading the crusade to save lake, said that the entire area, as per regional plan 2021, is put under heritage areas with no development.
There is every possibility that the septic and sewage of the sloppy area after development may pollute the water body, D’Souza mentioned.
“We have made several complaints to almost all the concern departments including Town and Country Planning, Water resource Department, Deputy Collector, Chief Secretary, etc. None of the departments have taken any cognizance to save the lake,” Reggie Gomes, another resident of St Cruz said.
Another issue which is raised by the local is the ownership over the lake by a private party. Mukundraj Mudras, a local from St Cruz, said that there is no clear title to the person who claims the ownership of Bondvol lake.
Comunidade of Kalapur Tiswadi is fighting a legal battle in the court to get back the Bondvol lake area to the Comunidade which is now in a procession of a private party. The locals have demanded that the entire property of the Bondvol lake should be acquired by the government of Goa and be developed.
It is a hidden treasure of tourism in Tiswadi taluka which is just five minutes distance from state’s capital, locals informed.
Till 2012 some of the farmers were cultivating some fields but later it was stopped as the tenant who was in possession of this lake had stopped storing the water during the monsoons.
Naresh Salgaonkar informed that the lake is surrounded by hills on all three sides and it is a perfect place to store the water.
Salgaonkar has said that if the lake is beautified and maintained than it will not only solve the water issue of farmers but also supply potable water.
Arturo D’Souza has alleged that government is not willing to acquire this property as real estate developers who had purchased lot of property surrounding this lake are pressurising the government.
