PONDA: The locals brought to the notice of the Ponda BDO Milindra Velip that the survey of fishermen in Shiroda be re-conducted keeping in mind the ground reality so that their livelihood is not affected.
The villagers claimed that the fishermen were not available in village on October 4 since all of them had gone to the BDO’s office when the Fisheries Department officials visited Shiroda the same day and conducted a survey in their absence. They urged the BDO that a new survey be conducted when they are present in the village.
Velip has clarified that his office received the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) on September 24 and the same was distributed to all concerned village panchayats. The BDO clarified that a wrong date mentioned on the letter to the panchayat had caused all the confusion.
Velip clarified that his office received a letter from the Director of Environment on October 3 and a memorandum was despatched on same day to the Shiroda Panchayat. He, however, admitted that the date mentioned on the memorandum was Sept 27 but said it was rectified on the same day.
It may be recalled that the Shiroda locals had gheraoed the Ponda BDO on Oct 3 alleging that the panchayat officials had delayed in displaying the CZMP plan for citizens’ suggestions.
The locals also alleged that the panchayat officials did not show them the plan they received as there was no covering letter from the BDO to display the plan to the villagers for suggestions.
However, the BDO had cleared that though the plan was sent earlier, the letter to display the plan in the panchayat had only come on Oct 3 from his higher authorities.
Fearing that the government may finalise the plan without considering the villagers’ suggestions, they approached the BDO office on October 4 demanding that the BDO give them a written clarification on the reason for the delay.
