TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Activists and local residents have won a significant battle against the concretization of the Sappu lake in Ambelim village with the Goa State Biodiversity Board recommending use of locally available traditional material and practices for the restoration work of the lake embankments.
The Biodiversity Board headed by Member Secretary Dr Nitin Sawant has told the Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department, to initiate necessary action to avoid further destruction of the rich biological endowment and water body in general.
Activists Ronny Dias and Clifton D’Souza have hailed the Biodiversity Board’s decision, saying it upholds the long-held view that concretization of embankments of lakes and water bodies destroys the environment and the rich flora and fauna. They hoped that the Water Resources Department will see reason and abandon the ambitious project to build the lake embankment with concrete as part of the Rs 3.15 crore project for the augmentation of water supply to Ambelim and neighbouring villages.
The Biodiversity Board had inspected the Sappu Lake on July 23 following a complaint by concerned citizens against the concretization on grounds that that it would spell doom for the environment. The movement against the concretization of the lake began when the Water Resources Department started dumping concrete all along the banks to commence work.
