By Cedric Silveira
The Pomburpa Spring in Bardez is considered to be one of the prides of the region. And rightly so, since, for generations the spring waters have provided the people with joy and relief.
The crystal clear waters are considered to be medicinal, as most springs are, and every summer people visit the spring in large numbers.
Originally belonging to the Church, it now under the care of the Tourism Department. Way back in 1915, this spring was developed by Augusto Mathias Pinto e Joaquim Vicente Pinto de Olaulim. Although there are many other springs in nearby areas, the Pomburpa spring still holds its own. Nestled amidst areca nut plantations, the spring makes you feel almost one with nature.
The Tourism Department has carried out a lot of improvements to the spring in terms of building structure, changing rooms, sulabhs, performance stage, etc. The newly renovated property now has an enclosure and the grounds within has been landscaped, so much so that many fail to recognise the place.
Says Jackie Fernandes from Mumbai: “I recall coming out here in the 80s. Then this place was totally different. It had just the bathing rooms where the spring waters would fall. Nothing else.” Adds John D’Souza, also from Mumbai: “I am originally from Saloi and it was customary earlier to come in the month of May for a bath at Pomburpa. Of late I have not been coming and I am happy to see the changes.”
Yet all is not as good as it appears, especially for the residents of the area. Often there are squabbles over the usage of water between a tourist and a resident. As most of the nearby residents make use of the water for drinking, washing clothes and bathing, arguments arise between tourists and the residents. Mario Fernandes, a resident has a solution to this problem. He says: “The water is contaminated at source by the villagers, which then flows into the wells and rivers, affecting marine life in the process. If a separate pipeline is constructed which flows outside the complex and provides access to the villagers, it will solve a lot of problems. Moreover, instead of wasting the water, everyday from seven in the evening to six in the morning the water could be harvested and provided to the village.”
Another sad situation is the fact that there are no notices, and people, especially on a Sunday, can be seen drinking alcohol, playing football on the lawns, and littering the place with garbage. The sulabh toilets too are not maintained adding to the woes of the picnickers.
Fr Santana Carvalho, parish priest of Mother of God Church, Pomburpa says, “summer camps have been held since for the last two years, wherein we get people to talk to the children and educate them on various topics such as the plants and flowers of the area, the spring itself, and the like. We also put small notices on the plants such as “do not touch”, and during the year we take St Elizabeth High School scouts and guides to clean up the spring area and maintain it. This year we managed to open up the passage from the church to the spring, a 500 m pathway, along which a tunnel flowed in the past bringing the spring water directly to the church area.” Indeed it is the community at large which can maintain the spring. If the Pomburpa spring has to remain the pride of the Bardezkars, then the villagers will have to play a bigger role in the future.
