Team Herald
PONDA: The Collem gram sabha on Sunday demanded that the village be excluded from “Eco Sensitive Zone.”
The villagers complained that since the villager has been included in “Eco Sensitive Zone” they are facing great hardship. There are hundreds of houses in Collem which are falling within “Eco Sensitive Zone.” Development of the village would become difficult as villagers would require permission from the Forest Department.
The meeting also adopted a resolution to increase the strength of Jeeps ferrying tourists to Dudhsagar waterfall by 175. Presently, 431 Jeeps are ferrying tourists to Dudhsagar waterfall on rotation.
According to the locals, after closure of mining many have become unemployed and so they need employment and many of them want to come into this business of Jeeps ferrying tourists to Dudhsagar waterfall. Therefore, the locals demanded that the Forest Department permit 175 more Jeeps to ferry tourists to the waterfall.
Pointing out that the revenue from illegal houses amounts to Rs 8 lakh per annum, the meeting adopted a resolution to collect house tax from such houses.
