CORTALIM
Sancoale, which shot into prominence after the canonisation of St Joseph Vaz, could very well turn into a popular tourist spot, if plans to beautify the Bandolem lake become a reality.
On Thursday, Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha along with GSIDC consultants made a presentation to Sancoale residents on her plans to beautify the Bandolem lake.
The consultants gave an in-depth presentation and also a draft plan of their impression on the lake.
“Although our plan is not official, we are presenting to you the salient features of what the lake would involve so that you can have a public space with all the Goan characteristics in your village,” Akihil Prabhudesai, the consultant for the project, told the villagers.
“We will ensure that we will safeguard all the natural aspects of the lake. We will build a 2-metre promenade along the lake, children's play area, provision of rafting and a small island. We will also grow plants that will help purify the water along with light effects.”
“We have also done the water testing and found it to be contaminated,” Prabhudesai added.
At this stage, a local, Santan D'Souza, informed the consultants that the lake will have no meaning if the sluice gate is not put in place and the flow of waste from Zuari Nagar is not stopped.
D'Souza was, however, informed by Saldanha that she had repaired many sluice gates, adding that, this particular sluice gate was not brought to her notice. However, she assured to immediately take steps to repair the gates.
On the Zuari Nagar waste, Saldanha informed that she had already started the process for setting up a sewage treatment plant to stop the flow.
Another resident, Dr Subir Sanzgiri, informed that some locals along the water way are releasing sewage which is polluting the lake, to which Saldanha replied that the panchayat would take steps to plug the flow. Later, the residents gave a go-ahead to the MLA to beautify the lake.
Sancoale sarpanch, Ramakant Borkar, and activist Lawrence Fernandes also participated in the discussion.
