Goa’s wetlands are particularly vulnerable to this push for concretisation.

Goa’s wetlands are particularly vulnerable to this push for concretisation. The national Wetlands Rules of India’s Environment Act prohibit the conversion of wetlands and the setting up or expanding of industries. But authorities often fail to enforce these protections. In the case of Toyyar Lake, the relevant authority set boundaries for the wetland area that were significantly smaller than those recommended by a research body. Locals and campaigners fear concretisation will choke mangroves, disrupt tidal flow and damage the wetland’s natural flood-control functions. The tourism ministry estimates tourist footfall in the proposed tourism area to grow from just over 72,000 this year to 111,000 in 2029.