Team Goemkarponn
CANACONA: Stating neither panchayat is in favour of one more forest checkpost in the village, Khotigao Sarpanch Vrunda Velip will obtain a written assurance that no check post will be set-up at Peeplamoll(Khotigao), where Forest department is carrying out construction as permitted under the forest act.
Addressing a joint press-conference, Khotigao Sarpanch Vrunda Velip alongwith Poinguinim Sarpanch Savita R Tawadkar, Shristhal Sarpanch Sejal Gaonkar denounced the criticism of forest department as not cooperating with the local people of Khotigao.
‘It is totally wrong to say that the Forest department is not cooperating with the people of Khotigao. Because of their cooperation and their extended permissions, we could bring and carry out all the developmental works through the reserved Forest and wildlife sanctuary’, Khotigao Sarpanch Vrunda Velip.
Poinguinim Sarpanch Savita Tawadkar stated many Poinguinim village Panchayat areas like Amone, Tirval, Marlim come under Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, and the forest department has cooperated in getting roads and electricity to the people of these areas.
Khotigao VP Dy. Sarpanch Poonam, Khotigao Ex-Sarpanch Anandu Desai, OSD to Speaker Santosh Lolayekar, Canacona BJP Mandal President Prabhakar Gaonkar, besides a numbr of Khotigao locals were present at the press briefing.
OSD to Speaker Lolayekar listed out the developmental works carried out and are in the pipeline in the Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary areas, stating all these have taken place or are taking place because of cooperation from the Forest department.
On asking if the Khotigao panchayat is okay with the construction being carried out by Forest department at Peeplamell, Khotigao Sarpanch Vrunda Velip informed that construction is being carried out in accordance with the forest act, and nowhere permission is sought or the panchayat has issued the permission, but ‘we (panchayat body) will strongly oppose set-up of any Checkpost at Peeplamoll. We are given to understand the construction is just to facilitate a rest place to forest staff and nothing more. Forest department assured us that construction will not be used to set up a Check post.’
Responding to further questions, Sarpanch informed, ‘we will seek the forest department assurance not to set up forest check post at Peeplamoll in writing now’
Former sarpanch and panch Anandu Dessai also reiterated that they will not take it lying down if the forest department sets up a check post at Peeplamoll. We will also agitate if inspite of assurance forest department goes back on its word to us’.
