Though, today Lamgao situated 2 km away from Bicholim town, is one of the wards of Bicholim Municipality, once upon a time it was an independent village predominantly depend upon agriculture and horticulture and blessed by rich sources of perennial water bodies like springs, streams and lakes.
However, onset of mining activities on a massive scale in Mayem, Lamgao areas have seriously caused degradation of the rich forest in the area there by destroying ground water table inherited by the town.
Lamgao was known during the ancient time as ‘Lamhagram’ mean village of Buddhist monks. The rock-cut caves carved out for meditation by the Buddhist monks stand testimony.
The decoration found on the moulded plinth in second cave of Lamgao indicates influence of Buddhism as Chaitya windows have been chiselled out and archaeologist Dr. V. R. Mitragotri has mentioned that the cave is belonged to 600 A.D. Reference has been made to the Bhoja patronage to Lamgao caves. Hiregutti copper plates of Asamkitavarman register the gift of Sundarika village in Deepak Vishaya to a Buddhist Vihar. Sundarpethin Bicholim has been identifies with Sundarika and Deepak has relationship with the brass lamp tradition of Bicholim.
Adjacent to the Buddhist cave, there is another cave dedicated to the cult of Shaivaits, the worshippers of Shiva, since this cave houses a Shivlinga and Nandi. During the Mahashivratri annual festival, a large crowd of devotees throng in the cave.
Near to the caves there is perennial spring which earlier used to quench the thirst of the Buddhist monks, villagers and irrigate horticultural fields along with agriculture. However, today spring water is used mainly for washing clothes and utensils.
Area was forested and was rich in perennial water bodies. Vaghpet in Lamgao and worship of Vaghrodev tells us that the land was known for tigers. Today, the natural heritage is on the verge of extinction. The lake of Mhatrai is heavily silted, streams are degraded.
The many springs, streams originating in Lamgao, Borde, Valshi, were feeding water to the Bicholim river. Today, the huge lakes irrigating agriculture, horticulture in the areas have already degraded. The horticulture fields have experienced gradual death.
Agriculture and horticulture was the backbone of Lamgao. Worship of Vaghrodev at Lamgao tells that once tiger was resident of the area. Numerous springs and lakes of Lamgao were continuously providing water for drinking and irrigation. But, today mining activities have forced to the people to depend totally on Sankhali and Padoshe Water Treatment Plants.
Today, lakes, springs of Lamgao are on the way of oblivion. Near to Government Primary school, there is a shrine dedicated to Kajreshwar with the huge sacred tree of Kajro. In the past this was the area of sacred grove. But, now except one tree all vegetation is already destroyed. A lake which was full with crystal clear water is silted and has muddy water.
The goddess Mhatrai means the great mother. She was the presiding deity and her temple was situated earlier inside the forested area. But beginning of mining activities had gradually threatened Lamgao village. The old temple of Lamgao got buried under the soil on account of haphazard mining activities. It has destroyed the sources of livelihood and forced the villagers to depend upon the compensation paid by the mining companies.
On the way to the rock cut caves in Lamgao, the stone sculpture of Mahishsurmardini was found. This sculpture with four hands, had ear rings, necklace, bracelets, in the upper right hand she was holding the trident piercing on the buffalo demon. The left hand she was holding the bell. The deity had early Chalukyan characteristics and belongs to 600 A.D.
The new temple of Mhatrai is build near the settlement since old temple was buried long back under collapsed mining dump remembers Pratap Govekar. The lake of Mhatrai is heavily silted. The wildlife habitat is totally destroyed. The concerned mining company has to undertake work to prevent siltation and degradation of lakes and streams before the onset of monsoon in the area which company on many occasions are not doing sincerely.
Lamgao was predominantly agriculture and horticulture village. The sons of the soil, toiling hard were getting good yield and were happy as their wishes and cares were limited. Villagers had the belief that the blessings of goddess Mhatrai was helping them in many ways. However, beginning of mining activities had gradually destroyed and degraded the village economy.
the concerned government authorities already know about the pathetic condition of Mhatrai Lake and other lakes of Lamgao made by the mining companies. However, no concrete efforts have been done to protect and conserve the water bodies of Lamgao. If systematic steps are taken to rejuvenate the lakes, our areas never experience henceforth the paucity of water.
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