PANJIM: The State capital Panjim was witness to two ‘people’s protests’ for a common cause – ‘Save Mollem’ – on Monday.
The protest saw youth, women and even children joining the stir in large numbers demanding the immediate revocation of wildlife and forest clearances granted to three infrastructure projects – double tracking of railway line, power transmission and sub-station and national highway expansion – passing through the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National park.
The day started with hundreds, under the banner ‘Goyant Kollso Naka’ (GKN) demonstrating outside the Forest Department office, Altinho. This protest that succeeded by the Youth of Goa in support of ‘Goencho Ekvott’. The demand was clear – no NOC for felling of trees, no work order and send back the proposals to the user agencies, seeking permission for forest land diversion within and outside the protected areas.
While GKN had last week submitted their say to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF), the youth made their representation on Monday.
Speaking to media persons, GKN member Abhijit Prabhudesai said that the Forest Department has granted permission to fell nearly 1.5 lakh trees within and outside the protected areas to make way for the three infrastructure projects.
“According to the PCCF order, the decision is in ‘public interest’. We want to inform the PCCF that the people of Goa are strongly protesting the forest and
environmental destruction,” he said.
“The projects or State government decisions are not in public interest but in the interest of private players,” he said. The protestors pointed out to the PCCF that he is the “saviour and protector” of the forest.
The protestors warned the PCCF to intensify the movement against the authorities, if it fails to revoke the NOC granted for tree felling. “People of Goa are aware about their Constitutional and democratic rights. We will abide by it and compel the government to withdraw all its permissions,” they said.
In the afternoon, several youth walked the streets of Panjim – from the Church Square, to the Forest Department.
In their memorandum, the youth said that “in order to protect our future, request that the clearances given for the three linear infrastructure projects in Mollem National Park and Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary should be immediately stopped”.
“As forest officers who protect the forests of Goa, by doing your duty to the environment, wildlife and forests, please recognise and remember that you all are standing for something that is bigger than each of us. You will not only be doing the right thing for our State but we are doing it together to stop the widespread destruction of our forests that matter to each and every citizen,” the youth said.
“By doing your job and staying true to the mandate of your duty of protecting our forests, wildlife and environment, you are not only serving your service well but the people of Goa as well,” they said.
The youth also reiterated that they are ready to hold talks with the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on the three projects, provided all the permissions granted are withdrawn, with immediate effect.