PANAJI: The Goa government is in the process of drafting a comprehensive policy to revive the state’s traditional salt pans, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced today after inspecting salt pans in the St Andre constituency.
Sawant said market linkages are being developed, and locally produced salt is currently undergoing testing for cosmetic and edible applications. “The policy will be finalised once the test reports are received,” he stated.
Earlier this year, during the Legislative Assembly session, St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar had raised the issue of reviving the salt industry and supporting farmers engaged in salt production. In response, the Chief Minister assured the House that the State would notify all salt pans, declare them as Biodiversity Heritage Sites, and ensure their protection from any form of development.
The revival initiative, to be implemented under the Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB), was formally launched during the International Day for Biodiversity 2025 celebrations held in Sanquelim last month. At the event, the Chief Minister highlighted the ecological and cultural value of Goa’s salt pans, locally known as mithache agor. and said their restoration would be undertaken through scientific and community-driven collaboration.
“Be it khazan farming, kulagars, or sacred groves, Goa’s biodiversity is woven into its heritage. With support from CSMCRI Bhavnagar and experts like Prof Savita Kerkar, the state will revive salt pans focusing on local bio-salt production, ecological restoration, and revival of livelihoods,” Sawant had said.
