SANGUEM
While people opposing IIT at Cotarli Sanguem continues, it is now time for villagers residing in the hinterland and hilly areas of Sanguem taluka to fight for withdrawal of notification declaring certain villages in the taluka as eco-sensitive zone.
The notification makes a mention of as many as 59 villages from Quepem, Valpoi, Sanguem and Sanvordem as eco sensitive zone of which as many as 17 villages are from Sanguem taluka itself. If notified as eco sensitive zone, the people living in these village will have a hard time and their living will be made very difficult, informed Chairman of Sanguem Vikas Manch Adv Anand Gaonkar while addressing a largely attended meeting held at Curdi Wadem on Sunday.
The Sanguem Vikas Manch which is spearheading the movement of withdrawal of the eco sensitive zone notification have given a deadline till end of December for the government to withdraw the notification failing which the Samiti has threatened to lead a mass agitation all over Goa.
Gaonkar informed that it is much ironical to know as to how the government could give its nod for the declaration of eco sensitive zones despite knowing fairly well the problems and difficulties the people will have to envisage once the notification comes into force.
Gaonkar recalled the assurance given by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant last year to Sanguem Vikas Manch of looking into the grievances advanced by the villagers but till date nothing concrete has come about and the grievances continue to haunt the villagers residing in the hinterland and hilly areas.
The villagers expressed grave possibilities of their daily living being made difficult once the villages stands notified as eco-sensitive zone.
Gaonkar informed that even in other BJP-led states as that of Gujarat and Karnataka, the notification declaring remote areas as eco-sensitive zones has met with objections from people. The same fate will be repeated in Goa, informed Gaonkar while explaining the problems the people will have to face once the notification comes into force.
The huge gathering which attended the meeting raised their hands to oppose the notification.
Zilla Panchayat Member Suresh Kepekar also assured his support to the villagers in getting the notification withdrawn. Villagers Chanda Velip, President of Gomantak Gaud Samaj Vishwas Gaude and Suresh Kakodkar also spoke at the meeting.
The villages which are declared as eco-sensitive zone in Sanguem taluka includes Selaulim, Kurdi, Naiquinim, Dongor, Nunem, Digeli, Verlem, Tudov, Nunem, Portem, Bhati, Poteem, Shegunem, Villian, Dongorlim, Uguem, Rivona and Colomb.
