PANJIM: As the first meeting to chalk out Common Minimum Programme
(CMP) of the BJP-led coalition government is scheduled to be held next week,
the Goa Forward party (GFP)- the alliance partner- is proposing to demand to
declare Coconut Tree as ‘State Tree’.
GFP leader and Minister for Town and Country Planning (TCP)
Vijay Sardessai want Government to withdraw the amendment to the controversial Goa Preservation of Trees (amendment) Act
2016, that declassified coconut as tree by categorizing it as palm.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
“The
party will also take up the issue of rescinding the legislation which had
declassified Coconut as a tree. We have already got assurance from Chief
Minister,” Sardessai said.
“We want Coconut trees to be saved. For that we want Coconut
trees to be declared as State tree,” the Minister added.
Amidst the strong resentment and uproar by the then
opposition members like Sardessai, Rohan Khaunte and Congress, the former
Laxmikant Parsekar led government passed the amendment to the Act deleting the
coconut tree from the preview of ‘tree’. It however, hiked the fees for tree
feeling or compounding offences from existing Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000.
The GFP, which drawn agenda to be discussed during the
meeting on April 17, has also decided to take up this issue of “making Goa
look different,’.
In yet another issue, GFP has decided to take up the issue
about illogical permissions being given by state government’s Investment
Promotion Board (IPB) special in the green and eco-sensitive areas. “We want
investment promotion board to be tightened.. Right now, it is very easy to have
projects in eco sensitive areas which should not be the case because then we
are not helping nature,” he said.
“We want IPB to be tightened giving not only impetus to
environment but also ensuring that employment goes to sons of the soil,”
Sardesai said adding that Government will have to bring in legislation to
ensure that 80 per cent of employment is given to locals.
During the meeting GFP will also raise the issue of
subsidizing Rice, Fish and Local Bread, which was part of party’s election
manifesto.
