GCA vows not to cut trees till hearing
PANJIM, APRIL 22
The controversy over proposed international Cricket Stadium at Tivim has been temporarily put to rest. On being taken to court, Goa Cricket Association (GCA) on Thursday assured that it will not cut any trees on the land acquired for cricket stadium till the matter is heard.
Environmental NGO Goa Foundation along with three residents have challenged the approval granted by Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) for diversion of 44,000 sq mts of forest at Tivim village for construction of commercial facilities connected with the development of the cricket stadium which is proposed to be constructed by the GCA.
When the matter came up for hearing before the Division Bench of Justices S J Vazifdar and U D Salvi the senior counsel Surendra Desai Desai representing GCA told the court that they will not cut down trees till the matter is heard.
As regard to other land (non-forest land), he said, work will not be commenced until necessary permissions are obtained and sought adjournment to file proper reply. The court will next hear the matter on June 21.
The petitioners GF, Uday Mavlankar, Gorakhnath Mavlankar and Ashok Parab sought a quashing of the forest clearance granted in relation to construction of an international cricket stadium and ancillary buildings and the proposed clear-felling of a natural forest involving 2500 trees on the grounds that the competent authority was not given adequate information by the agencies that moved the proposal. The proposal for international stadium was moved in 2007 by ex-finance minister and chairman of GCA Dayanand Narvekar.
The petitioners alleged that Town and Country Planning Department had rejected the application for change of zone of plot. This was not communicated to MoEF. They further charged that GCA is a private association set up to promote cricket which has been masterminding and manipulating behind the scenes all the procedures for takeover of the land and forest for construction of an international cricket stadium in which there are serious improprieties
The clearance granted therefore is in violation of the forest guidelines for approvals relating to diversion of forest areas to non-forestry purposes. Also, GCA and the Director of Sports and Youth Affairs have also not procured the mandatory environment clearance, alleged petitioners.
