High court issues notice on plea to protect Assagao’s Dossoxir spring

Panaji: Bombay high court has issued a notice in a PIL seeking protection of the natural Dossoxir spring in the command area of the Tillari irrigation project in Assagao. The petitioner, Desmond Alvares, told the court that the spring, nestled at the base of the hills of Assagao and Anjuna, belongs to the comunidade of Assagao. The area has been notified as a command area of the Tillari irrigation project. Alvares submitted to the court that no construction can occur in the area without the NOC of the command area development board of the Tillari irrigation project.The natural spring is not only a water source but also constitutes a vital ecological asset that supports local biodiversity, providing potable water to residents and is frequented by wild animals and birds, thus forming an integral part of the local ecosystem, Alvares further stated. In 1988, members of the comunidade of Assagao presented to the then president of the comunidade to preserve the Dossoxir spring and preserve the land surrounding the spring for public utility purposes. The representation was made with the foresight that future construction activities in the area could create a nuisance and lead to the destruction of the spring.Despite such representation, in 1995, the comunidade of Assagao decided to sell land for housing purposes, he stated. He added that the primary health officer wrote to the deputy collector Mapusa in Jan 1996, warning that the spring might be polluted due to the construction of houses, septic tanks, and soak pits. The TCP, Mapusa, indicated in 1995 that no construction should be allowed without a specific NOC from the health department. These consequences clearly demonstrate that authorities were aware of potential problems but failed to adopt sufficient measures to preserve the spring, Alvares added.Additional govt advocate Prashil Arolkar submitted that it would be appropriate if the water resources department is made a party. The high court granted Alvares leave to amend his petition. “Amendment to be carried out within two weeks from today. After the amendment is carried out, issue notice to the respondents, returnable on Feb 11, 2026,” the division bench stated.