Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: Vaddem Lake in Vasco, River Tar in Mapusa and Pomburpa river stretch are amongs the 20 water boddies found to be polluted due to discharge of raw sewage and other pollutants.
The directorate of Health Services has identifed total 20 water bodies across Goa which are found to be highly contaiminated due to various pollutants including dicharge of raw sewge. This information was provided by Environment Minister Alexio Sequeira during the recently concluded monsoon session of the State Legislative Assembly.
The Minister further said that the DHS has issuesd show causes notices to several units, which were involved in polluting the water bodies, in various forms like that of direct dischage of raw sewage.
Apart from Vaddem Lake, River Tar and Pomburpa river, the other important water bodies or river stretches include that of Khandepar, Curti, Ecoxim spring, Fatorda water body and others.
In the past, the Central Pollution Board had identified 11 river stretches of Goa as most polluted and accordingly had directed the State to work out a action plan for its rejuvenation.
Sequeira said that as per Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), the State Government through River Rejuvenation Committee(RRC-Goa) has prepared a State Action Plan for rejuvenation of 11 pollutedriver stretches and is being reviewed regularly to ensure timely compliance.
After testing the waters of 112 lakes, ponds, and temple tanks around the state, the Water Resources Department (WRD) discovered that 67 of them were contaminated. Thus, 59% of the waterbodies that were examined had pollution.
Pollution was even evident in the water of Nanda Lake in Curchorem, Goa’s first Ramsar site. The place received this designation in August 2022 as a wetland of international significance.
One of Goa’s largest wetlands, Nanda Lake covers 42 hectares and is home to a variety of species, including the intermediate egret, red-wattled lapwing, bronze-winged jacana, brahminy kite, black-headed ibis, and lesser whistling duck.
Pollution tests at Carambolim Lake have also come back positive. It is well known that migrating birds used it as a hotspot to avoid Eastern Europe’s harsh winters.
Some of the other waterbodies that have been designated as contaminated are important for biodiversity and have either been notified as wetlands already or are in the process of being notified. These are Toyaar Lake at Chimbel, Bondvoll Lake at Santa Cruz, and Batim Lake at Goa Velha.
Under the 2017 Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules of the Center, waterbodies that have been designated as wetlands are protected.
