Goa: Forest department meets villagers over Caranzol tree felling

KERI: Caranzol village in Sattari has been in the news after it was found that villagers were involved in clearing large areas of the Mhadei forest. Officials of the forest department on Saturday met with locals to discuss the matter of cutting of trees in the protected region.
“It is important to protect forests and wildlife as the sanctuary is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The forest department is eager to solve the genuine problem of the villagers. We are ready to cooperate with the villagers and will allow them to enjoy traditional rights as per the prevailing law. No further felling of trees and clearing of forests should be initiated in the sanctuary,” assistant conservator of forests associated with the wildlife division, Damodar Salelkar said.
The department has appointed Salelkar to investigate into the tree felling incident on Hulan Hill in Caranzol. He has also been assigned the task of planning a strategy to ensure that such incidents are not repeated.
“We are involved in protection of forests since ages. We follow the slash and burn practice (Kumeri sheti). The forest department should allow us to carry out agriculture and horticulture in Caranzol,” president of the Sattari Bhumiputra Sanghatana, Harichandra Gawas from Caranzol said.
On May 31, the Sanghatana held a meeting at Valpoi where a decision was taken to restrict movement of forest officials in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
“We are the owners of the forest in Caranzol and have been protecting it since generations. The forest department has been unnecessarily harassing villagers for tree felling on the Hulan Hill,” Gawas said.
Despite the Western Ghats being declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1999, villagers in areas within the sanctuary have continued to claim ownership of the land without producing any documents.
“By involving the local community, we want to protect the environment and forests,” deputy conservator of forests, wildlife, North Goa, Jabestin Arulraj told TOI. “Whatever issues of rights and privileges locals are bringing to our notice, we will make an attempts to solve, by adhering to the laws,” he said.
“As no final notification has been issued by the Goa government, some villagers are taking benefits and are involved in clearing forests by felling trees and setting fire to the undergrowth,” president of the Animal Rescue Squad Amrut Singh said.