PANJIM: Fourteen more water bodies in the State are set to be declared as ‘Wetlands’ as per the Union Environment Ministry’s rule.
Bondvoll Lake in St Cruz was the first to be declared as a ‘Wetland’. These water bodies are considered to be “critically significant” for its ecosystem service and biodiversity values for the local communities and society at large.
As per the latest document released by the Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, total 35 water bodies had been primarily identified as potential wetlands in the State of which draft notification with regards to 11 water bodies as Wetlands under Wetland Conservation and Management Rules 2017, has been issued.
Furthermore 14 more have been identified as Wetlands by the Technical Committee of GSWA and will be placed for Draft Notification, soon.
These wetland bodies include Sulabhat Lake (Agassaim), Talaulim lake (Talaulim), Tarvalem Lake and Udden Lake (Shiroda), Mayem Lake (Bicholim), Curtorim Lake (Curtorim), Sonbem Lake (Maina), Macazana Lake (Macazana), Communidade Lake (Guridolim), Ambulor Lake (Verna), Kamla Tollem (Benaulim), Orlim Tollem (Orlim), Sancoale Lake (Sancoale) and Pali Lake (Quepem).
With regards to water bodies like Curca Lake, Malebhat, Gawali–Moula and Canturlim (Curca), Banstarim Wetland (Bhoma), Parra Lake (Parra), Benaulim Lake- Vodlem Tollem and Dhakte Tollem (Benaulim), Sapu Tollem (Velim) and Maimollem Lake (Maimollem), the government is in process of preparing brief documents.
The draft to declare the wetlands have been notified in case of Bondvoll (St Cruz), Toyaar Lake (Chimbel), Carambolim Lake (Carambolim), Batim Lake (Batim), Dhasi Lake (Rivona), Pilerne Lake (Pilerne), Sarzora Lake (Sarzora), Durga Lake (Chinchinim), Cottambi Lake and Nanda Lake (Curchorem) and Xeldem Lake (Quepem).