OLD GOA
WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar on Thursday said his department cannot act on the issues raised by local MLA regarding the Bondvoll Lake in Santa Cruz till the court vacates the stay.
Speaking to reporters after the inspection, Shirodkar said he had inspected the lake after the issue was raised by St Cruz MLA Rudolf Fernandes in the Assembly.
“I am of the opinion that seeing is believing and I came to get hands on experience of the matter as only then will we be able to come out with solutions to the problems,” Shirodkar stated.
“The WRD is ready to do anything to save the Bondvoll Lake and till date, there has been no lapse from our side. But the matter is sub-judice as a tenant has got stay from the court which is why we are unable to undertake works,” the minister pointed out.
“In 2010, we had come up with an estimate of over Rs 4 crore for the development of the Lake. Now, the same would be around Rs 7-8 crore. We will keep the estimates ready and wait for the court outcome,” he added.
“Only after the stay is cleared would we be in a position to go ahead with the development of the lake,” Shirodkar added.
MLA Fernandes informed that it was way back in 2009 that the WRD had prepared a report on the seepage of water through the lake embankment, which is increasing as the years pass.
“There is an urgent need to repair the areas where there is seepage, failing which the embankment would give way and threaten the lives of the people residing below the lake,” Fernandes opined.
“The government can take cognisance of the same and undertake repairs by taking into account the looming disaster,” Fernandes stated.
Meanwhile, Calapor Communidade special attorney Peter Gonsalves informed that it was in 2017 that the Communidade approached the High Court and got part vacation of the lower court’s stay for replacing the damaged valve.
“A similar approach could be tried this time also,” he added.
WRD Chief Engineer Badami, AE Nazareth Vaz, former MLA Victor Gonsalves, Santa Cruz tenants association chairman Renato Dias, activists and a large number of villagers were present for the inspection.
