GOA`S REAL BEAUTY LIES IN NATURAL WATER BODIES: CM

Panaji: September19, 2025

Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant today expressed that Goa`s real beauty lies in its natural water bodies, ecosystem and rich biodiversity and not in beaches. Thus it is need of hour that serious efforts should be made to protect and conserve natural water bodies in the State. He was speaking at a Brainstorming Session on `Mission Sarovar Punha Nirman: Reimagining Goa` Lake` organized by Department of Environment & Climate Change at Panaji Gymkhana, today.

Chief Minister Dr. Sawant underscoring the importance of water conservation informed that the Government has initiated serious measures towards rejuvenating natural lakes in the State. As the State of Goa is marching ahead to achieve the aim of Viksit Bharat, 2047 and Viksit Goa 2037, utmost prominence has to be given for conservation of ecology and natural water bodies, he added.

Chief Minister urged panchayat bodies and citizens especially students community to play proactive role in the conservation of natural lakes identified in the State. He also cautioned alarm about depletion of ground water level, water pollution due to various factors. Some people have been very irresponsible by littering into water bodies, throwing garbage, plastic into rivers and lakes which could lead to very serious environmental problems in near future. Besides Government efforts people shares the equal role in protecting and conserving water bodies.

Department of Environment & Climate Change have stepped forward to address the issues of degradation of many lakes in the States. As the Government has identified 39 lakes to be rejuvenated focusing on ecological revival, beautification, community integration and sustainable management, the Department under the guidance of Ex-Scientist of Bhaba Atomic Research Centre, Padmashree awardee Dr. Sharad Kale organized a Brainstorming Session on `Mission Sarovar Punha Nirman: Reimagining Goa` Lake` which aimed to create a framework on restoration of Goa`s lake gained wonderful response from student community.

Dr. Sharad Kale in his address elaborated on the conservation of water bodies and his studies on the subject. He spoke on students` participation in conserving the natural lakes in the State.

During the session panel discussion was held on the conservation of Water bodies wherein national experts Dr.Udit Bhatia, Dr.Raghu Murtugudde, Dr.Mohit Prakash Mohanty and Dr. Sukdeb Pal shared their views.

Secretary, Environment Shri. Arun Kumar Mishra, IAS Chairman, Goa State Pollution Control Board, Dr.Levinson Martins IAS spoke on the occasion.

Member Secretary, GSPB Dr. Geeta Nagvenkar, Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department Shri. Dnyaneshwar Salelkar, Director, Department of Environment Shri. Sachin Desai were present on the occasion.

DIP/NB/AXP/SF/2025/ 724