Team Herald
PONDA: United Tribal Alliance Association (UTAA) has demanded the government to protect interest of tribals residing in Villages in Canacona, Sanguem, Sattari and Dharbandora talukas which are coming under eco-sensitive zone of Western Ghats.
UTAA President Prakash Velip along with office bearers addressing media said that the affected villagers had approached UTTA for solving their problems they would face. “A detailed study was conducted by UTAA on the issue and we realised that eco-sensitive means there will be a lot of restriction on tribals,” he added.
He further said, “Earlier around 100 villages and now around 56 villages proposed by government for eco-sensitive zones in the four talukas out of which 38 are in Sanguem and Dharbandora and rest in other talukas. After coming under Western Ghats, the villagers’ interest will be affected in many ways. There will be lot of restrictions on villagers including construction of roads, houses and other livelihood activities. There is need by State government to take steps to protect their interest because 80 per cent of the population is tribal in these talukas.”
He said that the Central Government has decided to declare Western Ghats as eco-sensitive zone. The Western Ghats passes through six states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Goa covering total 57,000 sq km area and this includes 1,461 sq km area of Sanguem, Dharbandora, Canacona and Sattari.