Team Herald
PANJIM: As the villagers from Sanguem taluka continue to oppose the inclusion of their villages in the proposed eco-sensitive zone around the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday assured to consider writing to the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to relax certain rules for the local inhabitants.
The State government earlier this year had approached the Centre, to include only 69 and not 99 villages in the list of eco- sensitive areas. In Sanguem, the villages, which come under the eco sensitive zone includes Nune, Dongore village, Villian, Bhaati and Kumeri village, parts of Netravali, Naigini, Curdi, Selaulim, Tudav, Ugem, Xelpem, Andurlem and Pattem villages.
Sanguem MLA Prasad Gaonkar along with former BJP MLA Subhash Faldesai and villagers met Sawant on Friday demanding that their villages be not included in the eco-sensitive zone. They further alleged that State Forest department officers are harassing the local inhabitants.
The villagers pointed out to the Chief Minister that as per the eco-sensitive zone, no construction or commercial activities will be allowed in 1-km-area radius between the boundaries of the wild life sanctuary and eco sensitive zone, which means, it will prohibit even the re-construction of houses. Though it is said that the repairs of houses will be allowed in the eco-sensitive zone area, there is no clarity as to who the authority will be, to give the permissions that will allow the repairs of these houses.
Speaking to media persons post the meeting, Sawant said that he had met local representatives in the presence of Forest department officials. At the meeting, he added, the various problems faced by people living around the wildlife sanctuaries had been listed.
“We will be addressing their issues on priority,” said the Chief Minister, while adding, “If required, the State government can also write to the MoEF&CC requesting them to relax certain rules around the wildlife sanctuaries.”
Sawant added that many of the issues have arisen due to misunderstandings between the forest department officials and locals, which can be resolved with proper intervention.
The Centre had initially issued a draft notification in 2015 for inclusion of 99 villages in the list of eco-sensitive zones.
Meanwhile, the CM ruled out the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle. “There is nothing like that,” he said, while responding to a question about a message that had gone viral about the possible cabinet reshuffle.
