CM calls for meeting today on CWH imbroglio

CM calls for meeting today on CWH imbroglio
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, OCT 12
After series of opposition against the Critical Wildlife Habitat (CWH), Chief Minister Digamber Kamat has now personally decided to intervene in the matter.
Sources stated that Kamat has called for a special meeting of Forest Department, Tribal Welfare Department and United Tribal Association Alliance (UTAA) on October 13 at his Chamber in Secretariat.
UTAA leader and Poinguinim MLA Ramesh Tawadkar stated that the association on Monday met chief minister seeking his intervention on the issue which will affect tribal population living in state’s wildlife sanctuaries.
He said that the Schedule Tribes and other Traditional Dwellers Act 2006, which speaks of tribal welfare is not implemented in the state with full vigour while it’s being enforced in bits and pieces.
“Forest department talks of CWH which falls under this act but what about other provisions of this act?” he questioned.
Tawadkar was amongst the leaders who had opposed CWH status to Cotigao wildlife sanctuary. The process for declaring CWH has hit a bitter note after Chorao residence raised strong objection to CHW status to Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary.
The State Level Steering Committee is facing a heat from the locals who feel that their rights would be encroached upon once CWH status is notified.
The BJP legislator said that chief Minister will take stand on the issue after the crucial meeting tomorrow. “We are opposed to CWH. They can’t thrust it on us,” he said.
Interestingly, even as Forest Department is trying hard to declare state’s wildlife sanctuaries as CWH, the Tribal Welfare Department, a nodal body to rehabilitate displaced forest dwellers, is in the mess in Goa.
The department which is set up recently is not functional. “Few staff is drawn from the social welfare department to make it functional but it’s yet to function like a full fledged department to take the important issue of rehabilitation,” Tawadkar said.