Chicalim youth push for ZAO in Mormugao

In a letter to the director of agriculture department on Sunday, CYFC Secretary Neha Gaude said the CYFC had petitioned the department last year to set up a ZAO in Mormugao taluka.

“Subsequent to our petition, the agriculture department had put up a proposal to the government to set up ZAO for Mormugao. We learnt through media reports that this proposal was favourably accepted by the government,” said Gaude.

“We are surprised and distressed to find that although it has been nearly a year since then, we have not seen any sign of ZAO related work being undertaken in Mormugao. Neither have we or our village Panchayat, Chicalim been notified regarding the progress in this matter.”

The CYFC said this year, it had taken up the challenge to revive nearly 20,000 sq. mtrs of fallow fields at Chicalim in Survey 104 of Chicalim village.

“This herculean task has been made even more difficult because of the many hurdles we face, especially in regard to the drainage system. You will surely appreciate that it is extremely inconvenient for us to have to access to the ZAO, Margao for necessary assistance each time we face a problem.”

“We earnestly appeal to speed up the process of setting up the ZAO Mormugao and accord it priority, in order to provide the badly required boost, support and encouragement to those taking on the task of agriculture revival in Mormugao taluka,” stated Gaude in the letter.

CYFC President Valerie Afonso stated that copies of the CYFC petition have been forwarded to the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, South Goa MP and all four legislators of Mormugao taluka.

“The CYFC will also submit a letter to the Chicalim panchayat on Monday,” said Afonso.

Recently, the Goa Civic and Consumer Action Network (GOACAN) and Vasco Councillor Shami Salkar had also made similar demands to set up a ZAO for Mormugao taluka.