SANGUEM: The villagers of Bhati Sanguem at a special gram sabha held on Thursday, resolved to oppose any move by the government to notify certain wards of Bhati village panchayat, which adjoins the Netravali Wild Life Sanctuary as an eco-sensitive zone.
Despite being a working day, the gram sabha was attended by over 300 villagers who in an unanimous voice opposed the declaration of eco sensitive zone in the village. Anil Kakodkar, Vilas Peter Cristo and Chandrakant Gaonkar spoke on the problems the villagers would have to envisage in the event of the government going ahead with the notification.
The speakers criticised the government for not taking the villagers into confidence before coming out with the notification.
Panch member Manoj Paryekar and Sarpanch Uday Naik also spoke on the effects the notification will have on the people, once it stands notified.
“The living conditions along with the conduct of agricultural activities in the village will be hard hit and the villagers will be subject to the draconian rules of the forest department if the notification comes into effect,” the speakers added.
“Despite the villagers having their own lands, which they have been cultivating for generations together, the notification will put a restrictive effect in the hinterland areas,” Kakodkar added.
Paryekar urged the villagers to remain united on the issue until the government makes amend and removes the panchayat areas out of the eco-sensitive zone.
Meanwhile , the sarpanch was caught on the wrong foot for allegedly texting a letter to the forest department promising all co-operation to the forest dept from the panchayat. While the other panch members present at the meeting denied having taken any decision to write to the forest dept, they urged the sarpanch to take remedial measures and get the letter withdrawn as it is totally opposed by the people.
“Under no circumstances, we support the forest department,” claimed the villagers, who sought to know from the sarpanch the reason for texting the letter to the Forest Dept. The row over the controversial letter took substantial time and the issue remained without satisfactory answer from the panchayat authorities.
