35 more water bodies, identified with help of NIO, likely to get protected status
A view of the Bondvoll lake.
In association with the Central Government Wetlands (Conservation and Management) rules 2017, the Goa State Wetland Authority, under the State Environment and Climate Change Ministry, has notified seven lakes in the State as wetland areas in the official gazette published on October 20, 2022.
These notified seven lakes are Bondvoll tallem (Kalapur Tiswadi), Panchami tallem (Khandepar, Ponda), Koneche tallem (Kone, Priol), Tarwale tallem (Shiroda, Ponda), Palli tallem (Davarli, Dikarpal, Salcete), Sulabhat tallem (Agashi, Tiswadi) and Udden tallem (Shiroda, Ponda).
The notification comes exactly after a year when Goa got its first six wetlands on October 2 in 2021.
The public opinions and suggestions are invited regarding the notification of these seven lakes as wetland areas till December 19, 2022. For details, visit https://gswa.goa.gov.in and for sending suggestions and proposals email on ms-gswa-goa-gov.in or send the hard copies addressed to nodal agency, Goa State Wetland Authority, Saligaon, opp Seminary, Saligaon, Bardes Goa pin 403511.
If one recalls, the State government had notified six water bodies under the 2017 Central Government Wetlands (conservation and management) rules on October 2 last year. These six wetlands were Xeldem tallem, Nanda tallem both in Quepem, Toyyar tallem in Chimbel, Dashi tallem in Revoda, Sarzora tallem in Chinchinim and Cothambi tallem.
The announcement of wetlands will bring in more tourist footfalls as Goa is known for its unique bird watching spots. Domestic and foreign tourists visit the State for bird watching and documenting of the endemic and migratory species diversity. The Goa State Wetland Authority, under the State Environment Ministry, has been working since the central rules came into being, to declare some of Goa’s important water bodies as wetlands.
As is known, water bodies are declared wetlands when they are considered to be critically important for their ecosystem services and biodiversity values for the local communities and society, at large.
Once an area is declared a wetland any polluting or encroachment activities that are detrimental to this ecosystem are prohibited in the area, including the setting up or expansion of any industry, disposal or handling of any construction waste, solid waste dumping, discharge of untreated wastes, etc in the wetland area. Encroachment or any construction of a permanent nature except for boat jetties are also not allowed in the notified wetland areas.
However, any traditional activities in the wetland are allowed to continue and water from the wetland will be pumped for the use of locals, if required. Planting of any indigenous trees is also permitted, provided these trees are considered to be suitable to the ecosystem.
Till date, 35 major water bodies have been identified in Goa with the help of the National Institute of Oceanography.
