'Development' has become a buzzword in our daily lives. However, this 'development' often comes at the expense of natural resources, which are struggling to survive. The question is whether, in the name of development, we can continue to harm nature for our needs while neglecting others.
Thousands of passersby must have observed that, until recently, as one drove down the slope along the Mapusa-Panaji route, approaching the Mandovi bridges, there existed a freshwater spring on the left side. Many would stop for a bath and collect drinking water from this perennial spring at Malim, as it was one of the rare watering holes along the national highway. The spring bifurcated, with one channel flowing along the road while the other followed the sub-surface, emerging on the southwestern route towards Betim.
However, the water flow was affected after the construction of the Secretariat complex and nearby buildings, and further damage occurred with the construction of the Atal Setu bridge across the River Mandovi. A landslide during the bridge construction and the building of an RCC drain along the road eventually sealed the spring.
The construction of the High Court on the western side of the highway, in the formerly green belt, further affected the hydrology of the hill, which was already weakened by the bridge construction. The surface runoff during the monsoon regularly erodes the laterite topsoil and gravels, which are washed downstream and deposited at the Malim-Betim road junction, causing serious hazards for vehicular traffic, especially two-wheelers. The panchayat regularly employs earth-moving vehicles to clear the slurry from the road.
The 'development' has taken a serious toll on the natural environment of the village, leading to the loss of one of the last surviving springs in the Porvorim region. With insufficient government intervention, it is up to the local community to protect their water resources. As water sources continue to deplete, preserving every water body should be a priority.
