Poinguinim, Amona, Virdi & Batim surveyed in Jan
Abdul Wahab Khan
Panaji: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has not commenced work on the revival of khazan lands in Goa, the Department of Environment and Climate Change has said, even as the institute has submitted a prefeasibility report following a field survey conducted in January.
“TERI has submitted the revised proposal, but all works have not been achieved. A comprehensive baseline assessment would require a feasibility study of at least one year to obtain a broader understanding of the current status of the khazans, including financial assistance,” a senior official of the Department of Environment and Climate Change said.
TERI conducted surveys across four khazan sites between January 9 and 19, covering Poinguinim in Canacona, Amona and Virdi in Bicholim, and Batim in Tiswadi. A Khazan Revitalization Suitability Index (KRSI) was developed to rank each site on a scale of 0 to 100 based on salt stress, hydrological management, water quality, and land use.
“However, for immediate interventions, conservation measures for the Poinguinim khazans and restoration activities for the Amona khazans may be initiated based on the preliminary findings of the prefeasibility assessment,” the official said. “We do not have to wait for the full one-year study to begin work at these two sites.”
