MARGAO: While the Goa State Wetland Authority (GSWA) has received numerous suggestions, objections and endorsements to its September 28, 2023 notification proposing nine Wetlands in the State, people have sent only sent endorsements for two of them.
GSWA Nodal Officer Dr Pradip Sarmokadam said that they have received not a single grievance or objection with regard to Oilem Tollem in Chandor and Lamgao Lake. “There are only letters supporting the government decision to declare these two waterbodies as Wetlands,” he said.
It may be recalled that the government had proposed to declare nine lakes as Wetlands vide the above mentioned notification. The other lakes are Maimollem in Vasco, Vodle-Dhakte in Cortalim, Moingal in Shiroda, Ambulor in Verna, Kamala Tollem in Benaulim. Bebki and Bacbhatt Lakes in Raia.
“There are no objections as such, but only grievances as people have said that they wanted certain conditions to be changed,” said Dr Pradip while refusing to divulge further details.
Stressing that the GSWA wants to take the people along with them and not just enforce what they want, he admitted giving an extension in time to file suggestions/objections as sought by Raia Panchayat.
It may be recalled that at its gram sabha on November 26, Raia objected to declaring the two lakes in their village as Wetland even though the last date for filing objections was November 25.
The Grievance Committee will now scrutinise all the grievances, objections and suggestions and submit its report to the GSWA based on which the final notification declaring Wetlands will be published.
It would be relevant to point out that 15 lakes in Goa are already notified as Wetlands and they are Tarvalem in Shiroda, Coneix in Priol, Nanda in Quepem, Cottombi Tollem, Xeldem Tollem, Dashi in Revora, Pilerne Lake, Sarzora Lake, Pali in Davorlim-Dicarpale, Durga in Chinchinim, Chimbel Lake, Bondol in Calapur, Carambolim Lake, Sulabhat Tollem in Agassaim and Batim Lake.
