Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Goa Forward Party (GFP) and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai today has requested TCP Minister Vishwajit Rane to show Zayo flower cultivation cluster at Mardol as heritage zone in the zoning plan.
“I have called TCP Minister to show this Zayo cluster as heritage zone in the zoning plan. And another demand that these lands cannot be sold to real estate lobbies for construction,” said Sardesai.
He further said that the farmers are concerned about the protection of their zayo cultivation land from potential destruction by builder lobbies.
“There have been instances of fires damaging their crops in the recent times. Additionally, the zayo cultivation land has been reduced by half due to road widening for the National Highway (NH), and some builders are attempting to acquire the remaining land,” he added.
Vijai said that 60 families are involved in Zayo cultivation and this trend should follow.
Speaking further, the farmers said that the farmers emphasise the need to safeguard the zayo plantation, which has been a source of livelihood for the local community for over a century.
They also said that the production has been significantly affected, with a recent decrease to fifty percent due to chemical pollution and instances of fires damaging their crops.
Farmers claimed that some builders have expressed interest in this land for their projects.
Meanwhile, the farmers said that during a gram sabha in Veling-Priol-Cuncolim they have passed to send a proposal to the government, requesting that zayo flowers be declared a heritage crop of the village to ensure the preservation of this important agricultural tradition and livelihood.
