MARGAO: The Curtorim panchayat is facing objections from the Tenants Association of Vaingonodde and Ralloi Tollem over the final draft of the Curtorim Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS). The tenants association claims that the draft was prepared without proper consultation, among other technical irregularities.
Meanwhile, another objection was filed by the Curginim Tenants Association against the work undertaken by the Goa Biodiversity Board (GSBB) of marking the survey numbers of the lakes as heritage sites allegedly without following the due process of law.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The Curginim Tenants Association claimed that they are ignorant about the BHS or how it would prove to be beneficial for the village and its residents, including the farmers.
In the case of the Tenants Association of Vaingonodde and Ralloi Tollem of Curtorim, they stated that they were not made aware about the implications of declaring the lakes as biodiversity heritage sites.
They said that neither them nor the Comunidade were intimated or consulted regarding the same. He added that they have many queries which need addressing and further alleged that the BHS finalisation was being conducted in a highly suspicious, illegal and arbitrary manner by keeping them in the dark.
They also pointed out how the guidelines mandated the involvement of communities’ institutions in the preparation of the Biodiversity Heritage Site process, which he believed was not followed. They added that they strongly object to the alleged illegal exercise of drafting the Curtorim Biodiversity Heritage Site without taking them into confidence. They further demanded that the process be kept on hold till all queries and issues are resolved.
