Ponda: Following pollution complaints, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has collected water samples from the Arla-Keri lake on Thursday. The lake has been declared a wetland.Residents urged officials to find the cause of the wetland pollution, as it turned dark brown.The water seems toxic, as many Kulaagar crops dried downstream, posing an existential threat to these horticultural fields.Villagers said the centuries-old lake is the only natural water source for irrigation. They suspect nearby commercial establishments are releasing large quantities of waste and sewage, polluting the lake.A GSPCB team led by junior engineer Aradhya Deshpande drew water samples for testing in its laboratory.Locals said an unbearable stench is emanating from the lake water at present and have demanded urgent action from the authorities. They have even tried clearing the lake of plastic and drinking water bottles floating on the water surface.Locals told the officials that a similar inspection was carried out in 2012, but the lake has been allowed to deteriorate again, despite being declared a wetland since then.Sandeep Parkar, an activist from Khandepar, said the lake is highly polluted. He said although govt declared it a wetland in 2023, no action has been taken to rid it of pollution.Notified wetlands are protected under the Centre’s Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. According to the Centre’s rules, once notified as a wetland, developmental activities around the waterbody and its zone of influence are regulated. Prohibited activities include disposing of construction waste and solid waste, and discharging untreated waste.
