the goan I network
VALPOI
Hundreds of land owners and farmers protested outside the Valpoi Deputy Collector’s office and Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary (MWS) office in Valpoi, to demand land ownership rights and to seek the de-notification of the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
The agitating land owners and farmers claimed that they had been deprived of land ownership rights since the last six decades, depriving them of government schemes and other benefits.
They claimed that despite putting forth their demands before successive State governments, their issue had not been resolved and said their land had been trapped inside the MWS.
Led by the Sattari Bhoomiputra Sanghatana, the hundreds of land owners and farmers began their protest rally from the Valpoi KTC bus stand at 10:30 am.
The was some initial confusion after Valpoi police stopped the rally and sought to know if permission had been obtained for the rally. After confirming the permission, the police allowed the tally to take place.
The rally proceeded to the Valpoi deputy collector’s office but the deputy collector was not present. Sattari Mamlatdar Anil Rane Sardesai later met the agitators and discussed their grievances. He appealed to them not to proceed to the wildlife sanctuary office, but the agitators ignored his request and went to the MWS office near the Valpoi Community Health Centre.
MWS Range Forest Officer Suhas Naik was initially not available and reached the office at 3.30 pm to meet the protesting land owners and farmers.
The agitators complained that the MWS staff had been causing problems to people residing in the sanctuary area. They warned officials not send their staff to the villages, else they would take law into their hands and MWS officials would be held responsible for any untoward incident.
Later speaking to reporters, the Range Forest Officer Suhas Naik said the staff have been working under rules of the MWS and instructions of their superiors. “The demands of the protestors will be conveyed to officials,” said
Sattari Bhoomiputra Sanghatna President Harischandra Gawas told reporters that this was the first time that people of Sattari had come on the streets to demand land ownership rights.
Mhadei sanctuary gate damaged, office set ablaze
VALPOI: Public anger against restrictions on account of the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary (MWS) took an untoward turn late Tuesday evening, when a gate installed at Kumthol village along the road to Kazaredhat was damaged by unknown persons and a nearby office was set ablaze.
According to sources, the incident took place at about 7 pm, when unknown persons grabbed the mobile phones of all staff present at the gate, before proceeding to damage the gate.
The gate at the MWS provides access to people proceeding to and from their villages. Many locals have complained of restrictions at the gate and added that they have to seek permission from authorities to pass through the gate. They have been frequently demanding the removal of the gate.
The demarcation posts in the area were also uprooted by the unknown persons, sources added.
The Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary officials have filed a police complaint regarding the incident and has demanded action against the culprits. The Valpoi police has booked an offence against unknown persons and investigations are underway.
