Experts seek statute to revive lakes in state

Panaji: With several lakes in Goa turning unfit for aquatic life and human use, experts have recommended enacting “Goa Law of the Lake” — a unified statute integrating hydrology, ecology, culture and people’s livelihoods.Policymakers, scientists, educators and citizens suggested charting a roadmap for restoration and sustainable management of Goa’s lakes at the “Mission Sarovar Punha Nirman: Reimagining Goa’s Lakes” workshop, organised by the state department of environment and climate change. They also recommended taking up a pilot project to restore 10 lakes by 2030.A senior govt officer said the discussions culminated into a consensus that Goa’s lakes are ecological and cultural assets requiring science-led, community-owned and climate-ready rejuvenation strategies.He said that Goa has approximately 70 lakes, of which 39 were studied, and nearly all fall under the CPCB Class E category—unfit for aquatic life or human use. With only two oligotrophic lakes remaining, rapid eutrophication driven by phosphorus enrichment, sewage inflows and land-use change threatens both biodiversity and water security.“Water is classified in Class A to Class E categories. Class A is the best quality whereas Class E is the worst,” he said, adding, “It means Class E categories are not fit for bathing but only for irrigation, industrial cooling and controlled discharge purposes.”

“Rejuvenating these lakes is no longer an environmental option but a strategic imperative for water resource resilience, climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation and community livelihoods and cultural heritage,” the senior govt officer said.Every panchayat in Goa has completed People’s Biodiversity Registers (PBRs) and constituted Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) — offering a strong institutional base for community-led lake stewardship.A govt officer said that one of the recommendations includes embedding lake management into school curricula, panchayat planning frameworks and ensuring sustained monitoring through BMC-led stewardship.“Mission Sarovar Punha Nirman” represents a shift from isolated projects to a systemic, participatory, and science-based framework for Goa’s water bodies, Dr Sharad Kale said. “Lakes are not just waterbodies, they are living systems — cultural, ecological, and spiritual. Their revival will secure Goa’s water future.”The white paper recommends the formal adoption of the Mission Sarovar Framework as a state-led programme for sustainable lake rejuvenation — aligning with Viksit Goen 2037 and Viksit Bharat 2047, a senior govt officer said.