Calling it a major victory for citizens, Wetland Committee Chairman Govind Shirodkar said the sustained public protests to protect Toyyar Lake have succeeded, crediting the people who stood firm day and night to save the water body.
“This is a victory for the people who remained determined and fought relentlessly to protect Toyyar Lake,” Shirodkar said, acknowledging the collective effort behind the movement.
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He said a final decision on the mega protest planned for January 30 would be taken shortly, noting that the movement has received overwhelming public support. “Thousands of people have backed this cause, and we cannot afford to disappoint them,” he added.
Shirodkar clarified that while the form of protest may change, the movement itself will continue. “The protest will go on in a different, less extreme form to send the right message to the people of Goa,” he said.
Reflecting on the struggle, Shirodkar remarked that his position as Chairman of the Wetland Committee played a crucial role in the outcome. “Had I not been the chairman of the Wetland Committee, the government would have won this battle long ago,” he stated.
The remarks come amid growing public engagement on environmental protection issues in Goa, with Toyyar Lake emerging as a symbol of citizen-led resistance to protect ecologically sensitive areas.
