In her reply to the cut motions, Saldanha had stated that her department had drawn up the Private Forest Management Plan and sent to the Ministry of Environment and Forest for its guidelines and approval.
“After getting the approval, the plan would then be put up in public domain for suggestion and objections,” she said.
However, Opposition leader Pratapsingh Rane, legislators Rohan Khaunte, Naresh Sawal, ruling MLAs Nilesh Cabral, Subash Phaldesai, Kiran Kandolkar and Vishnu Wagh took strong exception to the reply.
“The plan should have been discussed in the House before sending it to the MoEF,” said Khaunte demanding to know the need for identifying more private forests as Goa already has 59 per cent of forest cover.
The legislators pointed out that land owners have great difficulties in cutting the trees in their own land as it is deemed as private forest by the government.
Saldanha, however, said she has taken the step based on the directive of the Supreme Court which asked the States to identify and demarcate the private forests.
“We also feel for the owners of private land, who may not be able to use the land as per their needs and hence we have drawn up a plan and I assure that the concessions and privileges would be given to the owners,” Saldanha said adding, “We are not interested in taking away land from the people of Goa.”
“We have done this as the SC directives but I think directives of the Supreme Court do not hold much water in Goa Legislative Assembly,” Saldanha charged.
Despite pressure from Opposition benches, Saldanha refused to give in to the demand of appointing a House Committee on the issue.
Saldanha also assured that structures of traditional coastal dwellers built before 1991 would be regularized by the government but the issue is still pending with the MoEF.
“We have been constantly following up the issue with the Centre and I assure those houses would be regularized,” she said.
Saldanha also said that her ministry is seeking permission from MoEF for allowing commercial activity in these traditional dwellings.
