Team Herald
PANJIM: St Estevam villagers have continued to oppose the cutting of mangroves in the village without prior notice. Recently, the villagers had observed a stretch of at least 600 metres of mangroves being cut at the Babar Manus bandh.
Activist Fr Dominic Sequeira said, “We are not aware of activities being carried out in our village that are sanctioned by the government. We demand that we should be given a justification by the government about the same as soon as possible.” He stated that the workers at the site fled after cutting the trees and therefore no inquiry could be conducted by the villagers.
The bandh is connected to the Cupa Manus Bandh where reconstruction of the bandh was earlier stopped by the villagers as there was felling of mangroves.
Sequeira said, “The Old Goa Police have not yet taken action against the contractor, inspite of filing an FIR on the issue and giving several reminders to the police”.
The villagers are angered by the negligence of the police and demand that action should be taken immediately. He also stated that the sluice gate situated close by has dried up after which there was felling of the mangroves.
The villagers fear that the government is not informing the residents of the activities being carried out. They have demanded a justification by the government as to why the Cupa Manus project was sanctioned without taking ecological measures and also explain to them why the mangroves are being cut at the Babar Manus Bandh.
