MARGAO: The government’s proposal to declare Bacbhatt and Bebki lakes in Raia as wetlands has met with stiff opposition with from the owner of these lakes- the Raia Comunidade and the panchayat asserting that they were not consulted prior to publishing the notification.
It is pertinent to note that the Raia gram sabha on November 26 unanimously objected proposal to declare the two lakes in the village as Wetlands, primarily fearing that they will not be able to construct houses around the lake. Local MLA Aleixo Lourenco too objected to this notification.
Sarpanch Peter Quadros admitted that the panchayat did not discuss the matter when it met on October 31 even though a copy of the notification was sent to the panchayat.
Even though the gram sabha resolved to object to the notification a day after the final date to submit objections was notified, Peter said they had got an extension of 15 days to file their objections.
Raia Communidade president Roy D’Mello stated that the Comunidade has not been consulted nor informed about the decision and added that he cannot comment unless the Comunidade managing committee discusses it first.
“Once our committee meets, I shall be in a position to speak on the matter though I can safely say that the Comunidade will be with the wishes of the people,” he said.
However, the Raia Biodiversity Management Committee has taken up this matter quite seriously and as there are some houses within the proposed Buffer Zone, even got the Goa State Wetland Authority to inspect both the lakes and hear the grievances of the affected people.
Committee chairman Xavier Fernandes pointed out that Bacbhatt lake abutting the Maina Curtorim lake famous for the Handi Khuris feast, has become a bird watching centre as various migratory birds visit the site.
“Various storks like the Painted Stork, Open Billed Stork, Wooly Neck Stork and ducks like the Whistling Ducks and Pintailed Ducks, visit this lake and many people come to watch them,” he said, pointing out that last year the World Wetland Day celebration was held at this lake.
However, he admitted that around 15 houses, which are over 20 years old, exist in the area earmarked for Buffer Zone of this lake and another around 15 plots have been purchased by people to construct houses.
“The owners of these houses and plot have presented their grievance to the GSWA when they visited,” he said while adding that Bacbhatt water body is not perennial but only seasonal and when it dries, it used to be cultivated, which has now stopped due to high cost of labour.
However, the lake has since been de-silted by the Biodiversity Management Committee and the sluice gates have been repaired due to which this year farmers have cultivated the rabi crop.
Xavier praised Biodiversity Management Committee member Raymond Rocha, who besides taking up mechanised farming himself, is also helping other farmers with tractors and harvester and the small rice mill he has set up.
Bebki Lake which is a perennial water body, there are five houses in the proposed Buffer Zone and around 12 plots where houses are proposed to be constructed.
“We have asked the GSWA to consider the existence of these houses and proposed houses and also change the cropping pattern at Bacbhatt Lake as proposed in the notification,” said Xavier while expressing confidence that their request will be heeded to.
Bacbhatt Lake in an area of 75,009 sq mts has 33 survey numbers of which 23 are whole plots and the rest are parts.
The Zone of Influence admeasures 1,03,941 sq mts which includes 50 mts around the lake as Buffer Zone having 116 survey numbers admeasuring 79,575 sq mts including 3,480 sq mts of area outside survey plots which is roads and nullah. Incidentally, part of one plot is from neighbouring Curtorim village in an area of 2,580 sq mts.
The Zone of Influence of Bacbhatt admeasures 1,03,941 sq mts. which includes parts of 21 Survey Nos from Raia in an area of 16,044 sq mts including 5,322 sq mts of roads and nullah; and parts of 3 survey Nos from Curtorim in an area of 107 sq mts.
The Bebki Lake admeasures 10,525 sq mts and is surveyed under five whole survey numbers. Its Zone of Influence admeasures 36,296 sq mts including 50 mts around the lake as Buffer Zone having 24 survey plots admeasuring 28,838 sq mts including 4,206 of roads and nullah.
The Zone of Influence besides the Buffer Zone, admeasures 7,458 sq mts having parts of 36 survey plots admeasuring 7,458 sq mts including 2,531 of roads and nullah.
