PANAJI
Villagers of Santa Cruz have expressed anger over the sudden cancellation of a Goa Wetland Authority meeting scheduled for earlier this week which was expected to discuss re‘notification of a wider zone of influence around Bondvol Lake, already declared a wetland by the State government.
Activist Arturo D’Souza, local panch Domnick Pereira, and Goa Khazan Land Society secretary Elsa Fernandes said the authority was to deliberate on expanding the protected area. They argued the cancellation undermines efforts to safeguard the lake and its biodiversity.
Bondvol Lake has been at the centre of a long protest. Villagers have opposed a private real estate project near the lake. They fear construction will damage the ecosystem and threaten water security. The demand for re‘notification of a wider zone is seen as a way to block such projects.
A week ago, Santa Cruz MLA Rudolf Fernandes had facilitated a meeting with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant where the villagers had conveyed their demand directly.
They sought protection of the lake and the surrounding agricultural lands and Sawant had assured their concerns would be examined, but no action has followed.
D’Souza said the next step will be decided after consulting other villagers and the MLA. “We will chart the course of action to protect the lake and its biodiversity,” he said.
Fernandes added that the cancellation raises questions about the government’s commitment. “Bondvol is a lifeline. It must be preserved,” she said.
The controversy highlights the clash between development and conservation. It comes close on the heels of another protracted agitation in Chimbel which ended with the government conceding to the villagers demand to scrap the multi-crore Unity Mall and Prashsasan Stambh projects.
