Colva priest against filling of lake to build playground (ToI)

TNN | Jul 18, 2013, 01.38 AM IST MARGAO: After a resolution was adopted at Sunday's Colva gram sabha to allow the panchayat to go ahead with its proposal to build a multipurpose playground on low lying fields near the Colva church, the parish priest has written his objections to the chief minister, environment minister and water resources department. The parish priest has sought the intervention of the government authorities concerned to take corrective measures immediately. "The proposal to fill up the lake in front of the Colva church for the purpose of constructing a playground and other facilities, gravely threatens the environmental security of Colva village and must be dropped to prevent creating an irreversible environmental disaster in this extremely vulnerable coastal region," read the letter. The parish priest further pointed out that in this scenario, destroying the lake to build a playground, when a perfect ground already exists around 200m away from the lake, can only be termed as foolish and suicidal. Admitting that the 'vaingonn' cultivation was discontinued in recent years, he said that paddy cultivation is carried out in a specially reserved portion of the lake bed and the harvest is celebrated as the famous 'Konsamchem Fest'. "Whenever heavy rains threaten to flood the houses and lands in Colva, this lake is the lone saviour of the village from the impending disaster. By holding massive amounts of flood waters within itself, the lake prevents flooding in the surrounding areas, thereby protecting the dense settlements around it," read the letter. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Colva-priest-against-filling-of-lake-to-build-playground/articleshow/21131139.cms