CWH in Cotigao opposed

CANACONA, SEPT 23
After Chorao residents threatened to boycott public hearings in view of government’s plans to declare the village bird sanctuary as Critical Wildlife Habitat (CWH), similar opposition is also brewing in Cotigao.
The State Level Expert Committee (SLEC) for Critical Wildlife hearing is scheduled at Cotigao Panchayat office on September 30 in connection with the government’s plans to declare Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary into a CWH.
Sarpanch Rajesh Gaonkar issued a public notice and displayed it at many prominent places asking villagers to remain present at SLEC hearings with evidences in large numbers.
Gaonkar has also informed that in the past, gram sabha had resolved to oppose government’s move to turn their village into a CWH, as the government continued to sleep on rehabilitation measures after declaration of village forests as wildlife sanctuary.
If sources are to be believed, everyone in the village is opposed against declaring the village wildlife sanctuary as CWH for fear of more stringent rules that could be used to harass them in the future.
“Personally, I along with all my villagers are opposed to government’s plan of CWH and will show our opposition when SLEC will be in our village to hear our grievances,” said Sarpanch Gaonkar.
The villagers are not alone in their opposition as can be seen, after former minister Isidore Fernandes has too thrown his hat on the issue.
He has opposed the move in present form or till the entire lots from the village are suitably rehabilitated in accordance with the Schedule Tribes and other Traditional Dwellers Act 2006 and has accordingly submitted a memorandum to SLEC.
In his memorandum, Fernandes reminded the government that in 1986 after declaring Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, having 86 sq mtrs of land and six residential hamlets lacking in basic amenities like road, electricity, etc, continue to live in same living standards.
“Even assurances of rehabilitation promised since 1992 miserably failed to materialize for the tribal people nor the year 2006, enactment of ‘The Schedule Tribes and other Traditional Dwellers Act’, is enforced in these much-needed areas,” stated Fernandes.
“Ninety five per cent of Cotigao residents belong to Velip communities and from last 25 years, the government and forest department are doing injustice to this people,” he said.
“People cannot make use of minor forest products, which their ancestors have been doing in the past, and there are also incidents of manhandling of residents by forest officers over petty issues,” stated Fernandes.
“I believe that after declaration of critical wildlife habitat, the condition of these people will worsen, that’s why I request first to provide basic amenities and enforce ‘The Schedule Tribes and other Traditional Dwellers Act 2006 in true spirit,” he added.
“At this juncture, I oppose declaring Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary as CWH,” stated Fernandes.
Some of the residential areas still awaiting rehabilitation and that will be directly affected once CWH becomes a reality are Nadkem, Keri, Bhutpal, Morphonamoll, Endrem, etc.