POINGUINNIM/CANACONA: The State Level Expert Committee (SLEC), for Critical Wildlife will attend a meeting on September 30, at Cotigao panchayat office, at 10 a.m. to discuss plans to declare Cotigao wildlife sanctuary as a Critical Wildlife Habitat (CWH).

The meeting will also be attended by Mr Kamu Prakash, DCF, Wildlife and senior forest official, Mr Shashi Kumar.

The residents of Cotigao village are apprehensive of the government’s plans to declare Cotigao wildlife sanctuary as a Critical Wildlife Habitat (CWH), and this issue was discussed at a special meeting, convened by the former Poinguinnim MLA, Mr Isidore Fernandes, at Yedda-Cotigao.

The meeting primarily focused on maintaining unity among the residents to oppose in toto the proposal.

It is learnt that the CWH proposal is as per the Tribal Sub-Plan, which is aimed at implementing the Schedule Tribe and other Traditional Forest Dwellers’ Act 2006.

Many residents expressed their resentment and opposition to the plan, citing various shortcomings.

MLA Mr Tawadkar, speaking to ‘The Navhind Times’ informed that he took a tour of the villages and met the residents of the affected areas and simultaneously assured them that he would support them in their endeavour to oppose the government’s move to declare Cotigao wildlife sanctuary as Critical Wildlife Habitat.

Mr Tawadkar also asked the people to come out in large numbers with all the documentations they possess, and thereby lodge a complaint and protest when the SLEC meets on Thursday.

The locals sought the help of Mr Fernandes, who assured them wholehearted support towards their welfare. Mr Fernandes also informed the residents that he had written to SLEC, informing them that he and the residents of the five villages, were totally opposed to the plan as it directly affected the livelihood and residences of these people. He said that he further asked the authorities to first rehabilitate the people and then move forward with the plan.