Members question if move would invite buffer zone or wetland status
MARGAO
The issue of bestowing bio-diversity heritage site status for the village lakes took the centre stage at the gram sabha of the Curtorim village panchayat on Sunday.
At the gram sabha chaired by Sarpanch Aleixonho D’Silva, members demanded to know the criteria adopted for declaring the village lakes as heritage sites. Some of the farmers also demanded to know whether the heritage site status for the lakes would invite buffer zone a la the wetlands.
The issue at the gram sabha assumed significance and comes against the backdrop of the recent decision adopted at the gram sabha of the neighbouring Raia village to oppose any move to declare wetland status for the village lakes.
In fact, confusion prevailed amongst some of the gram sabha members whether the heritage sites would also have a provision for buffer zone a la wetlands.
Chairperson of the Curtorim Bio-diversity Management Committee, J Santan Rodrigues pointed out that the process for the declaration of the Curtorim lakes as bio-diversity heritage site had started long ago when former Panchayat Minister Rajendra Arlekar had visited the village.
He said since then, the process of notifying the village lakes as bio-diversity sites has been in the domain of the panchayat body, adding that it is for the people of the village to decide whether they want a bio-diversity heritage site for the lakes or not.
Member of the Bio-diversity Management Committee Rupesh Shinkre cautioned the members not to confuse bio-diversity heritage site status with wetlands. “Unlike the wetlands, there’s no provision for a buffer zone in respect of bio-diversity heritage sites. He cited an instance wherein it has been mentioned in a document that one of the village lakes finds no mention as a lake. This is a matter of serious concern,” he added.
Shinkre later told the media that the confusion and uncertainty over the issue of granting bio-diversity heritage site for the village lakes can be resolved by holding a power point presentation by officials of the State Bio-diversity Board. “After the power point presentation, a special gram sabha can be convened with a single point agenda to take a decision whether the village lakes should get the heritage site status or not,” he added.
Curtorim MLA Reginaldo Lourenco, who made his presence at the gram sabha, later told the media that a decision should be taken by the panchayat based on the sentiments of the villagers and the future of the village. “There’s been concern in certain quarters over the question of declaring the water bodies as heritage sites. As a MLA, I should not be blamed tomorrow that certain decisions were taken during my stint as MLA. Hence, let the people discuss over the heritage tag for the lakes,” he added.
The gram sabha also discussed the issue of MRF for waste management. Member Roque Mascarenhas told the media that the gram sabha members have demanded that the MRF should come up on the Leprosy hospital land owned by the Director of Health Services.
