AGONDA: In response to an appeal by Agonda Panchayat and the local parish to relocate the Olive Ridley turtle conservation centre, forest officer Rajesh Naik, alongside project officer Nestor Fernandes and other officials, conducted a site inspection on Wednesday.
The inspection was attended by key stakeholders, including Sarpanch Pretel Fernandes, Biodiversity Management Committee Chairman Shaba Gaonkar, Deputy Sarpanch Kenishya Fernandes, and several panch members and local residents.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Expressing concerns over the current location of the conservation center, Sarpanch Pretel Fernandes emphasized the need for its relocation to a more secluded and safe environment. This sentiment was echoed by Parish Treasurer Franky Fernandes, who highlighted the potential disturbance to the turtles due to the centre’s proximity to a private school.
Former Panch Tipu Pagi argued against the necessity of relocation, citing the centre’s history of multiple shifts. However, concerns persist regarding the abrupt relocation of the current center and its potential impact on the local environment.
Tensions briefly escalated between factions led by former Panchas Agnelo Fernandes and Tipu Pagi regarding the relocation issue. To mitigate further conflict, the biodiversity committee urged the inspection team to expedite formalities and address the community’s concerns promptly.
