ST CRUZ RESIDENTS RALLY TO SAVE BONVOL LAKE FROM DESTRUCTION
In a desperate bid to save the historic Bonvol lake, residents of St Cruz gathered at the site on Thursday, urging the government to intervene and protect the lake from destruction. The lake, which dates back to the Portuguese era, has been a vital source of water for nearby constituencies, including Taleigao, St Cruz, St Andhre, and Panaji.
The residents’ concerns stem from the recent felling of trees in the lake’s vicinity and the planned construction of a lake-view colony. Social activist Arturo, who has been at the forefront of the save-Bonvol-lake campaign, expressed anger against citizens who have sold land near the lake to developers. “We are trying to save and protect the lake at all costs, but some citizens are selling out to developers,” he said.
Environmentalists warn that the lake’s catchment area is being interfered with, endangering its safety and water collection. Elsa, an environmental architect, claimed that the damage to the network could cause the spring in the bed of the lake to dry up.
The residents are demanding a 200-meter buffer zone to prevent construction filth from entering the lake and contaminating its water. They also want the government to take over the land and the lake and beautify it as a tourist spot.
The issue has sparked widespread concern, with many criticizing the government’s inaction and the role of corruption in the destruction of Goa’s environment. Xencor Polgi blamed the party in power for allegedly converting around one crore meters of land in 2024, while Manoj Adwalpalkar warned that the electorates will show their vote power in the forthcoming election.
The fate of Bonvol lake hangs in the balance, and it remains to be seen whether the government will intervene to save this historic water body ¹.
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