MARGAO
Water Resources Department (WRD) Minister Subhash Shirodkar on Tuesday said the government will take up beautification of as many as 40 lakes across the State to revive the age-old irrigation system and beautify the water bodies.
The Minister reached the Fatorda constituency on Tuesday evening to inspect the water bodies that have been craving attention.
Shirodkar’s visit comes following his assurance in the Assembly to local MLA Vijai Sardesai during the demands on WRD that he would inspect the water bodies in the constituency.
After inspecting the water bodies, right from Dovondem, accompanied by MLA Sardesai, MMC Chairperson Lyndon Pereira, ward councillor Johnny Crasto and others, the WRD Minister said that the Dovondem lake and other water bodies will be taken up for beautification in the coming months.
Stating that the WRD had prepared an estimate to beautify Dovondem lake, Shirodkar said the assessment will be revised in the next 15 days.
“The Dovondem lake is a big area and I have observed that ancestors must have protected the land to pursue agriculture. We have to revive agriculture and take up beautification so that locals take an evening walk along the beautified area,” he said.
Saying that the WRD will take up the desilting and beautification of around 40 major lakes across the State, Shirodkar said the department has floated tenders for four of the water bodies.
Sardesai told the media that even as the lake will be taken up for beautification, the issue of sewage flow into the water body should be addressed within a year with the replacement of the North Main Trunk line.
“Our main purpose of beautifying the Dovondem lake is to use the water for irrigation and enhance its touristic importance. In Madrid Spain, the biggest open-air library, on the whole, is located in an area where agriculture and tourism coexist. We want to develop the lake on that model, but on a small scale,” he said, adding that locals have assured to provide the NOC for the work.
Water bodies used by temple devotees cannot belong to an individual: Shirodkar
MARGAO: Saying that water bodies which are used by temple devotees cannot belong to an individual, WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar said he would try his best to get the Dambab Talli at Fatorda open for the devotees throughout the year.
After inspecting the Dambab Talli near the Nehru stadium, Shirodkar said he would find out whether WRD can get the NOC to take up beautification. “Since the Ganesh idol are immersed at the lake, we would like to take up the work of beautification in a proper manner,” he said.
Earlier, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai explained to the Minister that the owner of the Talli does not allow the devotees to enter the water body at all times. He has demanded to know how water bodies can belong to individuals when they ought to be the property of the State.
“We only request that the Dambab Talli be beautified and the devotees allowed to use the lake since Ganesh idols from Margao, Fatorda and surrounding areas are immersed here,” Sardesai added.
