Ponda: The Chicalim Biodiversity Management (CBMC) Committee members managed to stop the people from gathering to extract clams (Tisreos) on Monday morning with the assistance from the Vasco Police.
The Police assured the CBMC members that they will not allow people to enter the seawater in large crowds to collect clams.
Cyril Fernandes, a CBMC member said that according to the police and local sources, people had started arriving at the site of St Anthony Cross at Dabolim from 3.30 am. They came from local communities of Dabolim and Chicalim. However, as seen in the last two days, they were joined by persons from Alto-Dabolim, Bogmalo, Sancoale, Cortalim and even some from Agassaim.
He further mentioned that there were even people who had come in canoes from across the Zuari River from Siridao/ Agassaim. It is given to understand that the Office of Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM), Mormugao and that of the Chief Minister took cognisance of the activities happening there for the past two days and acted promptly to stop this mass gathering of people. Sources stated that the Chicalim Parish priest too had appealed to the villagers to desist from venturing out into the low-tide-water during this sensitive period of lockdown.
Rui M. Da Costa Araujo, CBMC Chairman, wrote a letter to the Mormugao Deputy Collector, directing his attention towards this issue.
“It has been observed that a large number of people, approx over 500, gathered at the sandbar towards Vareg Island in the Chicalim Bay to extract Clams (Tisreo) this morning as well as over the last two days. It is expected that they would come again tomorrow morning due to low tide conditions. Gathering such a huge number of persons in one place is a violation of the present lockdown. Such gatherings will help facilitate transmission of Covid-19 Virus. Therefore, as Chairman of the Chicalim Bio-diversity Management Committee of the Village Panchayat of Chicalim, I request you to intervene and take appropriate steps to stop this large-scale gathering of people,” said Araujo in his letter.
He had also appealed the Dy Collector to depute adequate police force on Monday (April 27) early morning at 5.45 am. But to his pleasant surprise, he informed Herald that police personnel were present at the site since 3.30 am early morning. The police stopped people from entering the sea water and drove them away.
Police also assured the CBMC members present at the site such as Cyril Fernandes, Rui Araujo and a panch member of Chicalim panchayat that they will continue taking action.
