Proposal out, public suggestions & objections sought within 60 days of notification
MARGAO
The Goa State Biodiversity Board has proposed to declare lakes and fields of biodiversity importance in Curtorim village admeasuring an area of 6,11,757 sq mtrs in Curtorim village, as biodiversity heritage sites.
Raloi Tollem (161378 sq mtrs), Angdi Tollem (117039 sq mtrs), Sonbem Tollem (127223 sq mtrs), Gud Tollem (5795 sq mtrs), Mai Tollem (130850 sq mtrs) Colamb Tollem (50925 sq mtrs), besides Maitoloi/paddy field (7160 sq mtrs) and field channels admeasuring 11378 sq mtrs are proposed to be declared as biodiversity heritage sites.
The Board has taken the decision in consultation with the Village Panchayat of Curtorim and Curtorim Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) and after following the guidelines as laid down by the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA).
The proposal has been published in the government gazette for the information of the interested parties stakeholders/ persons likely to be concerned or affected thereby. A notice has been given by the Board that the proposal to declare the land admeasuring 6.11 lakh sq mtrs shall be taken into consideration by the GSBB after the expiry of a period of 60 days from the date of publication of this notice in the Official Gazette.
The notification states that all objections and suggestions to the proposal may be forwarded to the Member Secretary, Goa State Biodiversity Board, Opp. Saligao Seminary, Saligao, Bardez-Goa or on email address goanbiodiversity@gmail.com before the expiry of 60 days from the date of publication of this notice in the Official Gazette.
Outlining the important considerations while declaring the areas as biodiversity site, the notification stated that the existing traditional practices of land use, activities such as farming, fisheries, bund making/restoration using traditional or new but eco-friendly techniques utilising local material, requirements to manage salt water intrusion by managing mangroves, etc shall not be hampered or disturbed due to BHS declaration.
However, the change in land use detrimental to ecological characteristics of the said area shall not be permitted. The existing land use as wetlands, agro-pisciculture shall be maintained. Integrity of ecosystems shall be ensured. Also existing households shall not be affected due to BHS declaration, the notification stated.
It further stated that traditionally existing methods of farming, future plans for mechanised farming, auctioning of fishing and other rights as per prevailing systems, any other rights under any other prevailing legal provisions shall not be affected or disturbed due to BHS and such pre-existing rights and privileges shall not require any approval from GSBB.
The notification stated that all the pre-existing ownership rights and privileges pertaining to identified and notified BHS will be maintained. Further no pre-existing ownership rights or property will be transferred to GSBB as a part of this notification. The status quo of the existing ownership of the notified property will be maintained.
Management of the BHS shall be done through the BHS Management Committee consisting of concerned Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) i.e. Curtorim Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC), Local Body, jointly with the representatives of owners and tenants of the properties covered in BHS, BHS Management Committee of BMC and in consultation with Concerned Departments & Goa State Biodiversity Board (GSBB).
Any infringement on the declared site shall be dealt by the relevant section/s of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and the Goa Biological Diversity Rules, 2017 and also existing applicable rules of the State of Goa.
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