PERNEM: Shack owners from Morjim and Mandrem have said they are for turtle nesting but not at the cost of their livelihood.
“We want turtle nesting, but not at the cost of our livelihood”, say shack owners in Morjim and Mandrem.
It may be recalled that NGT had recently ordered the demolition of shacks on turtle nesting site in Mandrem and Morjim as they had allegedly violated the norms laid for turtle nesting. While some shack owners had demolished their shacks as soon as the notices were issued, many others were yet to while the State too had prepared its machinery to carry out the same exercise. However, later on, the shack owners managed to get a stay on the demolition drive by approaching the court.
The shack owners and tourism stakeholders in Mandrem and Morjim now have high hopes that the government will be able to come up with a solution wherein the livelihoods of the people doing their business are protected along with the government’s efforts to safeguard the turtles.
They expressed their concern about the losses they can suffer but reiterated that they are not against turtle conservation and further acknowledged that turtle nesting has made Mandrem and Morjim famous.
“Turtles in Morjim have made the beach more famous. Everyone has the right to look after it and this is the reason we support turtle nesting and are not causing any harm to it. Instead we help the forest dept and cooperate in safeguarding the turtles, which is why the number of turtle hatchings at the Morjim coastal belt have increased compared to the last few years.”said Marshal Fernandez, shack owner. “Our livelihood depends upon on our business by which our families are looked after. The case is still in the court, but if the final verdict is not in our favour, then there are fewer chances for us to do business in next season. We used to shut down the shack between 7 to 8 pm. We do not play loud music nor heavy lights are put on which can affect the turtles. As the govt is trying to maintain the safety of the turtle we too want the govt to come up with a solution in safeguarding our livelihood”, added Fernandez
Pernem Mamlatdar, Rajesh Ajgaankar said,” After the notice was served, an inspection was conducted and shack owners were directed to demolish the shacks. However, later on the shack owners managed to get a stay on the demolition process. The case is with the NGT and until NGT doesn’t give any final verdict or order, we cannot say if the shack owners will be able to carry on with business for next season or not”.
“People in Morjim safeguard the turtles otherwise in other turtle nesting sites people kill the turtles and their eggs so that they stop coming in there since once the place is declared as turtle nesting and no one will be allowed to do business. However, in Morjim people support turtle nesting, they preserve them and cooperate with forest department. There is no harm to the turtles in Morjim even though people are running business here in Morjim” said Gauresh Poke, a local.
