NT Reporter
Panaji
Sounding an alarm over the deteriorating condition of Goa’s lakes, Dr Sharad P Kale, former Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) scientist and chief advisor to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, on Thursday said 39 water bodies in the state have been placed under ‘E’ category by the Central Pollution Control Board due to severe pollution.
Attributing the crisis to multiple factors, the veteran scientist said the major issues include sewage contamination of the water bodies and the lakes getting infected with invasive plant species.
Speaking at a press conference to announce a day-long session titled ‘Mission Sarovar Punha Nirman: Reimagining Goa’s Lakes’, scheduled to be held on Friday, Dr Kale said there is an urgent need for revival, maintenance and management of the vital water resources in the state.
Explaining the importance and benefits of restoration of the lakes, he said, “Every lake can be a beautiful ecosystem and not only provide drinking water or water for irrigation. Lakes can also serve as sources of recreation and help develop employment opportunities if they are maintained properly.” He talked of cities where rivers facilitate water transportation and
recreational activities.
The session to be held on Friday will bring together Biodiversity Management Committee members, panchayat representatives from affected villages, students and scientific staff from various departments. It will also feature engineers and water experts sharing experiences from successful lake restoration projects across India.
Explaining the session’s methodology, the scientist said, “We need to identify the point sources of contamination because you can spend money reclaiming lakes, but if pollution sources continue, the investment is wasted.”
The initiative particularly emphasises on participation of students from schools and universities, with plans for competitions and innovative skits highlighting water conservation. It also aims to develop a foolproof methodology and provide a white paper to the government with actionable recommendations.
“We want to create awareness that we have ample water supply and we shouldn’t face scarcity, while ensuring that these lakes serve as beautiful ecosystems for drinking water, irrigation, recreation and employment generation,” Dr Kale said.
Sharing an example of South Goa’s unique bubbling lake near Netravali village, one of the only two or three such natural phenomena worldwide, Dr Kale said, “It’s a very small lake, something like 30 feet by 20 feet, but what is astonishing is that it has water all 12 months, and the water bubbles continuously.” The bubbling intensifies with sound waves, making it an intriguing subject for student research projects, he said.
