Goa: In St Andre, upgrade of bundhs, lakes in offing

PANAJI: Repairs of a few bundhs in khazan areas, deweeding and beautification of lakes in Batim and Agasaim, and other water bodies, appears to be on the cards in St Andre constituency as WRD officials inspected several sites on Friday.
WRD minister Subhash Shirodkar accompanied by St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar, department officials and others toured the constituency and discussed problems related to the water bodies and other infrastructure.
The popular Batim lake — a centuries-old irrigation source, a birding habitat and a multi-layered heritage site — was one of the places Shirodkar visited.
The issues of lake beautification and deweeding were discussed. A Rs 3.8crore beautification project that involves cleaning the lake and stabilising the hill slope on its northern side has been pending.
Batim lake, believed to be built by a certain Gandogopala Keni during the Kadamba era, is also sought to be declared a wetland by the Goa State Wetlands Authority. There was some opposition to it as well as the beautification project due to the possibility of concretisation of the green area.
“A meeting of locals, farmers and the comunidade body will be convened to discuss the proposals before going ahead,” Borkar said.
Two bundhs at Vadvad and Curca, a water body at Palem, another bundh at Siridao and similar infrastructure at Neura and Azossim-Mandur were also visited to ascertain problems related to their stability.
In the Azossim-Mandur khazan belt, major breaches to main bundhs of Ofla, Domzo and Caujem on the Cumbharjua canal need urgent attention, the minister was informed. Shirodkar said a proposal to avail central assistance for the major repairs would be considered.