Construction mud covers biodiversity rich site at GU (ToI)

Construction mud covers biodiversity rich site at GU Paul Fernandes, TNN | Jun 22, 2013, 06.04 AM IST Bambolim: Frenzied activity to construct an indoor stadium for the Lusofonia Games has irked academicians and students alike at the Goa University (GU) campus, as their 'outdoor ecological laboratory' in an area rich with biodiversity is being irretrievably shrunk. Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) and Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) are working overtime to complete the 61.25 crore project by September 30, 2013. The enormous speed to create facilities for five disciplines, including volleyball and taekwondo, has forced the authorities to cut corners, sources alleged. A few GU academicians had earlier protested in vain the noisy construction activity that went on till late evening when work started in October, 2012. Patches of the green watershed area had to be necessarily cleared for the infrastructure. Recently, many trees were chopped for two parking lots near the faculty blocks. While the work continued at the site near the silver jubilee hall on the north-eastern corner of the campus without any assessment of the likely impact of the activities and collateral damage, trucks carelessly dumped tonnes of mud and debris near a gushing seasonal stream on Thursday. Academicians alleged that this happened due to a lack of a management plan to dispose off the debris. A major part of the northern campus and the indoor stadium site is the watershed of the century-old Bondvoll lake in St Cruz. "The lake receives millions of litres of water from this catchment area from June to October," Goa state environment protection council member Nandakumar Kamat said. The dumping, which continued on Friday, has shrunk the catchment and partly buried one of the lake's major streams. "When the monsoon peaks up, the run offs of red mud will enter the lake," Kamat said. Though the landscape looks common with its grassy patches, plants and trees, researchers swear by the rich biodiversity thriving in the area. "Around 40 to 50 wild flower species have been recorded and catalogued here, but the dumping has fragmented the watershed," Kamat said. The area supports a lot of plant and bird life. "The landscape with its rich flora and fauna is a natural laboratory for ecology practicals for students," a source said. Kamat had petitioned the government for its protection before the work started. The site has evidence of natural and tribal history, as archaeological survey of India officials had found microliths in Bambolim in 1964, Kamat said. "It is an archaeologically rich area, being the migration route of the first settlers, tribals in Tiswadi island," Kamat said. A SAG official denied the allegations and said the site will be cleared soon. "We have asked the GU authorities to suggest another site to shift the material," the official said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Construction-mud-covers-biodiversity-rich-site-at-GU/articleshow/20709755.cms