The serene Bhagwati Plateau, coveted by the film industry and
earmarked for an IIT project, has become a battleground for passionate locals
advocating its preservation. During the Vanmahotsav celebration held on Sunday,
more than 223 enthusiastic children united to plant saplings, symbolizing their
determination to safeguard the plateau from future destruction.
Following the approval of the People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR)
at the Loliem-Polem gram sabha, the Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC)
organized a Van Mahotsav, swiftly transitioning into a powerful protest.
Youngsters brandished placards with slogans such as “Save Bhagwati
Plateau” and “Scrap all Amendments,” expressing their opposition
to deforestation and any proposed developments, including the contentious IIT
campus.
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BMC Chairman Dattaprasad alias Manoj Prabhugaonkar, alongside
members Cajy D’Silva, Sam alias Sameer Naik, and former sarpanch & panch
member Sachin Naik, vehemently voiced their resistance against government
intervention. They called for the plateau’s custodianship to transform it into
a biodiversity hotspot, highlighting their commitment to preserving the natural
heritage of Loliem-Polem. As tensions escalate and uncertainty looms over the
fate of Bhagwati Plateau, the resolute local community stands united in their
struggle to protect this ecologically significant site.
