TEAM HERALD
MARCAIM: Hundreds of residents from Marcaim have threatened to boycott the ZP elections, if the government fails to take steps to remove the saline water from the fields at Marcaim.
A large number of residents from Caranjal-Parampai in Marcaim gathered at the khazan Mand and later marched to protest against the illegal conversion of about 3.5 lakh sq. mtrs of agricultural land for fishing activity by storing saline water.
Locals said they have been opposing fishing activity in agricultural land since the last four years and they complained that authorities concerned, including the collector, mamlatdar, soil conservation authorities, talathi and even the local panchayat had not paid heed to their demand.
The residents have now set a two-day deadline to the government to take the necessary steps to resolve their grievances, failing which the residents of Caranjal-Parampoi have threatened to boycott the ZP election.
Their threats to boycott the ZP polls could severely affect the poll prospects of three women candidates contesting elections from Kavlem ZP constituency, which has been reserved for women candidates.
Speaking to media persons, local leader Sankalp Fadte said the residents were against the storage of saline water in the fields since the past five years.
“Left with no option, angry residents recently confronted the Ponda Mamlatdar. The talathi who visited the site for an inspection reported that the field is dry and that, no saline water is entering into the field,” said Fadte.
“Besides, those involved in illegal fishing have filed false police complaints against the residents that the people have been stealing their fish from the field. If the talathi has reported that the field is dry, how can a police complaint be filed that locals are stealing fish from the field?”
Another resident, Jayesh Fadte, claimed that the saline water has also become a breeding ground for flies and insects, thereby posing a health hazard to residents.
