VASCO: Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS) Committee chairman Cyril Fernandes handed over the copies of resolution from the BHS and the Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) of the Chicalim panchayat to the members of the sub-committee on Draft ODP 2030 for Vasco planning area.
Fernandes along with members of the sub-committee of the Mormugao Planning and Development Authority (MPDA) Viraaj Dessai and Rajendra Dicholkar on Wednesday visited various heritage and biodiversity sensitive sites in Chicalim and Dabolim under the jurisdiction of Chicalim Panchayat. They were assisted by Chicalim Bio-Crusader members Roopa Naik and Adil Gadhiali.
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Chicalim villagers have been pursuing the MPDA to mark their historical, heritage and biodiversity sensitive sites on the ODP 2030, undergoing finalisation for Vasco Planning Area.
Hundreds of villagers have petitioned the MPDA member secretary demanding the listing of all such sites existing in Chicalim panchayat jurisdiction and appealed to the MPDA to mark the same on the Draft ODP for their protection and preservation for posterity. On Wednesday, the Sub-committee members visited the natural breeding ground of endangered window pane oysters at Vareg Island. They were briefed about the ecological sensitivity of this water body by Fernandes, who is also the chairperson of the Chicalim Panchayat’s Biodiversity Heritage Site Committee.
The committee further visited the historical Megalithic Caves at Naquelim, the Chicalim Khazan, the natural springs at Assoi ward, and the Deussa ward which has a network of water bodies and nullahs, all fed by the Chicalim Khazan and the Chicalim Creek.
