Panaji: Goa chief minister Pramod Sawant wants the traditional (forest) dwellers to be the eyes and ears of the government to ensure that there is no encroachment in the protected wildlife areas and forest lands by non-forest dwellers.
Sawant told the House that the non-inhabitants encroaching the forest areas and wildlife sanctuaries were a cause of concern for the state government. He was speaking on the floor of the House during Calling Attention motion moved by Independent MLA Prasad Gaonkar about several villages from his constituency being included in Eco-Sensitive Zones by Union ministry for Environment and Climate Change.
“The traditional forest dwellers need to be alert and intimate government about illegal encroachments by non-forest dwellers in the forest areas and wildlife sanctuaries. We will initiate immediate action against them once it is brought to our notice,” the chief minister said.
Sawant said that State government has approached Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change with a proposal to include 69 villages, which forms part of wildlife sanctuaries, as eco-sensitive areas.
“As the legislators, it is our duty to preserve our wildlife sanctuaries and forest areas,” he said assuring that “there will be no displacement or dislocation of the local people living in eco-sensitive areas.
Sawant said agriculture and plantation activities will not be affected, after its notification as eco sensitive areas.
He said that the central government had initially issued draft notification in 2015 for inclusion of 99 villages in the ESZs. “However, the state government approached Ministry to include only 69 villages, which form part of notified WLS of Mhadei, Bondla, Bhagwan Mahaveer, Netravali and Cotigao,” he said.
