Cotigao locals to meet CM about new forest areas

Canacona: Cotigao locals will meet chief minister Pramod Sawant and as they are not happy with certain parts of the village being marked as forests. At a meet on Sunday, several said they were unware that areas like Monem, Avem, Yeda, Kuskem,Tamnamol and Nadkem have been marked as forest areas and this move could affect their livelihood.Manohar Velip, Payak Gaonkar, Shubham Komarpant and other prominent villagers attended the meeting.With a population more than 1700, Cotigao village has around 400 houses and they depend on farming and horticulrure plantations like cashews.Cases are pending under the provisions of the Forest Rights Act. Velip said they will request CM for faster disposal of the cases under the Forest Rights Act.