CANACONA
Over 600 residents of Poinguinim and Loliem-Polem have requested the Centre to retain their villages within the Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) of Western Ghats, and to also include other villages of Goa within ESAs of Western Ghats.
Separate but virtually identical 9-page petitions were submitted to the secretary of Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change by the Citizens’ Committee of Loliem and Villagers of Poinguinim.
The signatories to both petitions stated that their villages are located on a unique headland of the Western Ghats, where rich forested slopes and springs of the plateaus connects the Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary to the Arabian Sea.
This has made the entire region a critical habitat for various species of flora and fauna and an essential part of the Western Ghats of Goa, they stated.
They stated that their villages are also an integral part of the tiger habitat comprising the Anshi-DandeIi Tiger Reserve of Karnataka, four wildlife sanctuaries and one National Park of Goa and adjoining areas of Maharashtra, spread over 2,500 sq km of pristine forests.
“These are among the largest patches of dense, pristine forests of the Western Ghats and are super-critical for the survival of the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, Goa and Northern Kamataka.”
The signatories also added that their villages are inhabited by indigenous tribes and others who have lived here since tens of thousands of years.
“The existence of numerous rock carvings, caves and other archaeological remains from thousands of years give evidence of a living civilization that must be protected. The declaration of our village as an Ecologically Sensitive Area of the Western Ghats is the only way that the indigenous communities and ancient civilization, with all its knowledge, can be protected and saved from certain doom,” the petitions stated.
Stating that entire Canacona taluka is a part of the ESA of the Western Ghats, the signatories claimed that it is necessary that all villages of Canacona taluka are included in the Notification.
“Further, we have observed that large parts of the ESA of the Western Ghats in the remaining parts of Goa, namely in talukas of Quepem, Ponda, Dharbandora, Bicholim, Sanguem and Sattari are not included in the Notification. We urge that all of the villages in the talukas mentioned are included in the Notification as ESA of the Western Ghats,” both petitions stated.
The signatories claimed they were pleased to see that the draft ESA notification has clarified that all existing health care establishments can continue in Eco-Sensitive Area and proposed Primary Health Centres established as per laws and regulations, that there would be no restriction in change in ownership of property and there would be no restriction on repair or extension or renovation of existing residential houses in the Eco-sensitive Area as per prevailing laws and regulations.
They were also pleased to know that activities permitted in ESA villages included agriculture, horticulture, plantations, forestry, animal husbandry, services, communications and other economic activities of the local communities, as well as transportation and movement by people and vehicles, running of schools, educational institutions, hospitals and healthcare centres for local communities.
