Staff Reporter

Calangute

The Calangute Biodiversity Management Committee has conveyed serious apprehensions regarding land filling, sewage discharge, and the devastation of mangroves along the banks of the Baga river. This concern was formally communicated in a letter addressed to the chairman of the Goa Pollution Control Board, the member secretary of the Goa State Coastal Zone Management Authority, the Director of Environment and Climate Change, and the member secretary of the Goa State Biodiversity Board.

In the letter, the committee emphasised the significance of Baga river as a national small river, highlighting its ecological, cultural and environmental importance. However, unauthorised construction activities along its banks have resulted in widespread dumping of waste, sewage discharge, and land filling, causing irreversible harm to its fragile ecosystem.

The committee said the mangrove forests along the riverbank play a critical role as habitats for diverse flora and fauna, playing a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of the region. Additionally, the river itself supports a rich biodiversity of aquatic life, including endangered species that rely on its waters for survival.

The committee also referenced an inspection conducted by authorities in 2019, highlighting that the report prepared by the Pollution Control Board was recently presented before the gram sabha. Following this, the gram sabha resolved to initiate a joint site inspection of the Baga river. The committee expressed concern that the river’s pollution is intensifying due to unauthorised activities along its banks.

“We strongly urge the authorities to take immediate action to halt all further land filling and illegal construction activities along the banks of the Baga river”, the committee said.