MAPUSA
Slamming the government for converting land that was rich in biodiversity, a gram sabha member, Premanand Divkar said that Calangute panchayat will have to do more than just talk if at all it wants to protect its diversity for posterity.
“Our own government is converting hills where major biodiversity exists. They are showing hills as settlement zones. Biodiversity-rich areas are being destroyed. If the State government cannot protect its biodiversity then what is the point of having a biodiversity committee in the village panchayat?” Divkar queried.
He said a plot bearing survey nos 277 and 278 was a low-lying field and the area came under biodiversity, but in the ODP it was shown as settlement.
He further disclosed that the entire Baga hills of almost around 30,000 square metres have been shown as settlement area. He said the total area was biodiversity rich, as there were a lot of medicinal plants there.
“On one side the government asks the panchayats to have a biodiversity committee and on the other the government converts biodiversity-rich land into settlement zones and destroys the biodiversity,” Divkar, who appeared agitated, rued.
Divkar said that Calangute panchayat had a biodiversity committee which was not functioning and some of the members did not even know what biodiversity is.
Sarpanch, Shawn Martins said that whatever panchayat can do to protect the biodiversity it will do. “What we can do we have to do. It doesn’t mean we give up. Whatever we can do we will do within our powers. In the end it’s up to the people. Let the committee be formed,” said Martins, who appeared subdued.
