Santa Cruz activist Arturo Carlos D’Souza has urged the Goa State Wet lands Authority (GSWA) to commission the National Environmental Engineer ing Research Institute (NEERI) to carry out a comprehensive scientific survey of Bondvol Lake. He said that only an expert study can clearly identify the catchment area, zone of influence, buffer zones and lay down the precise statu tory no-development line.
D’Souza’s representa tion follows the Bombay High Court’s observation that its 2017 interim order must give way to the State government’s notification under the Wetlands Rules 2017, while allowing the petitioner to pursue the matter with the competent authority. In October 2022, the government had de clared Bondvol, along with six other lakes, as wetlands. Meanwhile, the devel oper has sought modifica tion of the 2017 order to permit construction with in 50 metres of Bondvol’s boundary, citing the Ga zette notification of Octo ber 28, 2022.
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However, the High Court-appointed Task Force had earlier empha sised that Bondvol must be protected “in its entirety,” recommending a 200-me tre no-construction buffer.
