Seeking preservation of Oxel spring, locals demand site demarcation

Staff Reporter

Mapusa

Fearing that a project is coming up in the vicinity of a natural spring in Oxel, its residents, along with locals of surrounding village of Siolim, have come together raising demand for its preservation.

For the survival of the spring, they want the site to be demarcated properly and declared as a natural heritage.

They said they are opposed to any project that would be detrimental to the spring and that concerns pertaining to the spring had already been raised with the sarpanch and deputy sarpanch, seeking its protection. 

 “The spring is over 100 years old and the residents use its water as it is proven to have alkaline properties,” said. Suraj Chodankar, a resident of Siolim.   

Citing an example of a natural spring of a temple in Assagao that it had stopped flowing due to a construction in the vicinity, he said, “We do not know what project is coming up in Oxel and how it will impact the spring. We have seen trees being cut down, including coconut and mango trees.  Thereafter, digging will be undertaken and the spring will suffer.”

“We demand that the spring site should be demarcated and declared as a natural heritage,” he said.

Another resident Avertino Miranda said that springs will die if trees are cut down rampantly. “We need to preserve our hills. Massive destruction of Goa is taking place. Groundwater level is depleting and we will not have water to drink also.  I urge everyone to unite and fight for the protection of the spring,” said Miranda.