Panaji: The Goa State Wetland Authority (GSWA) has approved the final notification of nine additional wetlands under the Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.
With this, the total number of wetlands officially notified in Goa rises to 34.
The nine wetlands approved for final notification are Dhakte Lake (Diuler Tollem), Ita Lake, Orlim Lake, Vodle Lake, Adsule Lake, Manali Lake, Ambulor Lake, Kamala Lake, and Lagoa De Cima, all located in South Goa.
Ten other wetlands remain in the draft notification stage. These are Udden Lake, Dhulpe Lake (Chicungal Tollem), Bebki Lake, Bachbhatt Lake, Maimollem Lake, Vodle-Dhakte Complex, Lamgao Lake, Zuari Lake, and Moingal Lake in South Goa, and Maem Lake and Lamgao Lake in North Goa.
Currently, 25 wetlands covering around 205 hectares are officially notified under the 2017 rules. These include Nanda Lake (42.01 ha) in Quepem, Carambolim Lake (58 ha) in North Goa, and Durga Lake (24.85 ha) in South Goa.
Other notified wetlands include Dashi Lake (0.5 ha), Toyyar Lake (5.85 ha), Cottambi Lake (1.1 ha), Xeldem Lake (0.2 ha), Sarzora Lake (10 ha), Pilerne Lake (4 ha), Bondvol Lake (8 ha), Batim Lake (16.68 ha), Coneix (Conem) Lake (0.9 ha), Arvalem Lake (4.53 ha), Pali Lake (4.4 ha), Sulabhat Lake (5.4 ha), Panchami Lake (0.96 ha), Macasana Lake (0.7 ha), Bandolem Lake (0.85 ha), Kodal Lake (0.76 ha), Arla Keri Lake (3.7 ha), Kolamwada Lake (1.05 ha), Parra Lake (0.2 ha), Betal Lake (0.4 ha), Sapu Lake or Tollem Bandar (20.7 ha), and Talaulim Lake or TalsalTollem (0.53 ha).
Of the 19 wetlands under draft notification, nine have now received final approval.
According to GSWA, 50 wetlands in Goa have been identified. Of these, 44 were considered for notification under the 2017 rules based on scientific studies by agencies like CSIR–National Institute of Oceanography and reviewed by the Space Application Centre. The remaining six were excluded due to overlap with Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ), which are covered under separate protection laws.
