the goan I network
VASCO
With overgrown bushes and thick vegetation, it is no surprise that snakes are more frequent visitors to a residential area in New Vaddem at Vasco.
Residents of the area have raised fears as many of the children, who are in the middle of their Diwali vacation, have sighted snakes in the vegetation while playing.
They allege that the forest department refused to come to the site at night when informed about the presence of snakes in the bushes saying its staff was not available at night.
Residents have now demanded that the ward councillor at least cleans up the unattended garbage and gets the thick vegetation pruned.
Speaking to the media, social activist Vinod Kinelkar said that people sighted a python in the area and also shot a video, which was sent to various animal rescue teams but no help arrived.
“We called the forest department, but the staff there told us point blank they don’t work at night and hence they cannot come on site. This is really bad. The rescue team of the department has to be available at all times when people’s lives are endangered due to presence of animals.
He said if the forest department says its staff cannot, then the authorities must let people know which helpline to call during emergencies. “Who is responsible if a python attacks small children who are at home during vacation? Lives of people are at risk. There is garbage and thick vegetation that has grown in the area. The vegetation is the reason for the presence of snakes and reptiles. I appeal the ward Councillor to please chop off bushes and thick vegetation so that the area is clean,” he stated.
Another resident Theresa Caldeira said that her child had a narrow miss after he went to get his ball that had gone into the bushes.
“He went to get the ball and with the help of a stick was trying to move the tall bushes when he saw a python. He was so scared that he came screaming back. We all rushed to the site to see the python moving into the thick vegetation.
We appeal to the authority concerned to come to remove the python from the area. This python has been sighted many times,” Caldeira said.
