CANACONA
The two-week confrontation between locals of Khotigao and the forest department has now intensified over construction works in the forested area of the village.
While the forest department has filed a police complaint against 3 locals, including a former sarpanch, for obstructing construction of an anti-poaching camp in Khotigao village, the locals accused the department of illegally carrying out a construction in the village allegedly to house a check post at Pimplamoll.
Former Sarpanch and ST leader Daya alias Umesh Gaonkar along with a large group of locals went to the Canacona police station on Thursday to accompany three locals who were summoned by the police in connection with the police complaint.
“On February 23, a JCB with no registration number was seen carrying out excavation works at Pimplamoll, after locals on the previous night noticed some forest officials carrying out demarcation works,” said Gaonkar.
“Through sources, people learnt that the forest department is constructing a checkpost in the area to harass us, local residents.”
Around 50 people then confronted a forest guard supervising the works and sought the panchayat permission and other licences to carry out the ongoing works.
“Initially, they claimed to have all permissions, but we found out that the panchayat had not given any NOC or permission for the work,” said Gaonkar.
“We then alerted different authorities and a Talathi who was sent to inspect the work directed the JCB operator to leave the site. The matter was also discussed in the gram sabha and a decision was also conveyed to RFO (Wildlife), Canacona.”
“We will not allow another check post in the village, as the already one existing at Nadkem, creates innumerable problems to the people of Sheshaval,” Gaonkar added.
Khotigao villagers have also decided to file a complaint against the Forest Department with the ST Commission.
