Team Herald
MARGAO: Villagers of Orlim have criticized the process of declaring the lake as a wetland and strongly opposed its
inclusion in the list of wetlands. At the extraordinary gram sabha meeting held on Sunday, villagers
gathered in large numbers unanimously resolved
to say no to the plan of the Goa State Wetland
Authority.
Villagers have further claimed that Orlim Lake, opposite to the Church, has been monitored and preserved by them for centuries.
It is pertinent to note that in a recent draft notification the government has proposed wetlands across the State of Goa, wherein Orlim Lake too has been included in the draft list.
While discussing the draft notification, villagers claimed that the Orlim Lake is not a wetland.
Villagers further claimed that there are few ponds in the village of Orlim being used for irrigation purposes. However, the lake identified by the concerned authorities, is not a wetland. They have apprehension that activities organised under the Church, besides development activities of the individuals residing over here, will be adversely affected if the lake is declared as wetland.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Sarpanch of Orlim Village Panchayat, Simon Pereira said that the proposal of the Goa State Wetland Authority to identify the Orlim Lake as wetland has been opposed by the gram sabha members.
“The villagers have demanded that the proposal should be scrapped. Gram sabha members have strongly claimed that
locals will be affected if
the Orlim Lake is declared as wetland.
It has been noticed that several houses are coming within the marked radius of the lake, which will further affect the development activities of the individuals,” he said.
He also stated that the panchayat body was not taken into confidence by the authorities before identifying the Orlim Lake as wetland.
