MARGAO
Ahead of the January 16 meeting called by the Goa State Bio-Diversity Board (GSBB) to discuss the controversy surrounding the draft notification to declare Curtorim lakes as bio-diversity heritage sites, South Goa MP Francisco Sardinha has come out strongly against moves to accord the bio-diversity heritage site to the lakes in Curtorim.
The MP on Thursday also telephonically spoke to the Minister for Environment, Aleixo Sequeira, who is heading the Goa State Bio-Diversity Board as the Chairperson, conveying his objection to the draft notification issued by the GSBB to declare the Curtorim village lakes as bio-diversity heritage sites.
Commenting on the raging controversy in his home village, Curtorim over the proposal to declare the village lakes as bio-diversity heritage lakes, the South Goa MP said it is the farmers who have kept alive agriculture and the water bodies in the village. “Curtorim has been known as the granary of Salcete over the years. This is because that the people and farmers of Curtorim have love for agriculture. They have cultivated the fields with the water stored in the village lakes. My only request to the authorities is don’t put the lives of the people and farmers to difficulties. I believe in the principle of live and let others also live,” he asserted.
Saying he is firmly opposed to the draft notification to give bio-diversity heritage tag for the lakes in Curtorim, Sardinha called for taking the stakeholders into confidence before taking any decision. “I want to repeat again, that these fields and lakes have been preserved and protected over the years by the people and farmers and not by the authorities,” he added.
