PANJIM: The Save Mollem group has declared its support for the residents of Loliem village who are vehemently opposing the proposed establishment of a Film City project and a Hybrid Park on the ecologically sensitive Bhagwati Plateau.
In a unanimous resolution passed during the Loliem gram sabha, villagers rejected both the Film City project and the proposal to grant lands belonging to the Loliem Comunidade for any non-traditional purpose.
A member of the Loliem Comunidade is leading a signature petition in Canacona taluka, opposing the Comunidade’s plan to approve the two projects at its upcoming general body meeting.
Environmentalists have also criticised the use of Bhagwati Plateau for these projects, emphasising the severe threat posed to the plateau’s biodiversity. The Save Mollem Group stressed the urgency of taking action to preserve this ecological haven, consisting of 250 acres earmarked for the Film City and 494 acres for a wind-solar hybrid park.
“The Bhagwati Plateau, often misunderstood as barren, is a crucial biodiversity hotspot, holding reservoirs of our water bodies, housing endemic plant species, and unique micro-habitats,” stated the group. They highlighted the deep cultural roots of the Bhagwati Plateau, serving as a protector deity for villagers, their fields, and livestock, with tiger worship and a sacred temple adding layers of cultural significance.
They also referred to claims of scientists that plateaus in Goa have more endemic plant species compared to that present in forests.
“In winter, Bhagwati plateau looks very different compared to its appearance during the monsoons,” the group added further.
