MARGAO: Several villagers in Curtorim have expressed objections to the declaration of the agrarian village as a Biodiversity Heritage Site (BHS), citing a lack of clarity and information on the issue.
Arnald Costa, a Curtorim villager and secretary of Sirjem Add and Angdoi Tolem Association, raised concerns in a letter to the Goa State Biodiversity Board. He mentioned that confusion persists among the villagers due to a lack of proper information from the village panchayat and the Biodiversity Management Committee members present at the gram sabha.
During a recent gram sabha, numerous queries were raised, but satisfactory answers were not provided by the authorities, leading to a call for more clarity and proper information on the matter. Costa emphasised the need for informing the people about the work done, and the potential benefits for the residents,. Drawing parallels with the strong opposition to wetland declaration in the neighboring village of Raia, Costa highlighted the fear among Curtorim residents, particularly the farming community, regarding potential tough restrictions. He called for a meeting between officials from the Goa State Biodiversity Board, the Biodiversity Management Committee of Curtorim, and all stakeholders, including property owners, tenants, farmers, tenant associations, and other affected individuals, to collectively decide the next course of action.
