Goenchea Xetkarancho Ekvott
Letter no. 01 /2010 Date:14/01/2010 To The Police Inspector, Margao Town Police Station, Margao, Goa. SUB: ILLEGAL FILLING AND DESTRUCTION OF HERITAGE LAKE AT SHIRVODEM, NAVELIM – PROMPT ACTION AGAINST MR. EDWARD VAZ Ref: (1) Complaint dated 22/12/2009 by Dr. S.G Prabhudessai (2) TCP letter bearing No. TPM/ill-cut-fill/Sal/09/8002 dated 23/12/09 (3)Letter dated 23/12/09 to the Chief Minister Sir, With reference to the complaint referenced (1) above (copy attached), the Town and Country Planning Department had instructed your office, vide their letter referenced (2) above, to stop Mr. Edward Vaz from further filling up the Shirvodem Lake and the neighbouring Communidade Agricultural lands, and to remove the all the earth dumped therein. Till today no action has been taken against the defaulter, nor has the earth been removed from the the said lake and paddy fields. This is a matter of grave public importance, and delays in booking the defaulter shall have serious and irreversible repercussions for the town of Margao and the village of Navelim on account of the grave ecological importance of the said lake and land. It is brought to your attention that the subject lake is of immense ecological importance for the entire area of Margao, Navelim and neighbouring villages. You must take cognizance of the fact that this lake hosts thousands of migratory and resident ducks of at least 14 species, including endangered species such as comb ducks, gadwalls, shovellers, etc. It is also recorded that extremely rare species of ducks such as ferruginous pochard, smew duck, etc, which are not found anywhere else in Goa, also come to this lake for wintering. It is therefore amply clear that protecting this water body and the surrounding fields is of the greatest importance not only for the farmers of Shirvodem and the residents of Margao, Navelim and surrounding villages, but also as an inescapable responsibility towards humanity and the environment. I therefore request you to take prompt and swift action to avoid further damage to this heritage lake and to restore the lake to its pristine condition immediately. Awaiting early justice and thanking you in anticipation Yours sincerely, cc: 1) The Dy. Collector, Salcete, Margao 2) The Town Planner, Salcete, Margao 3) The Hon'ble Chief Minister of Goa