PANJIM: As the first meeting to chalk out the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the BJP-led coalition government is scheduled for next week, alliance partner Goa Forward Party (GFP) is proposing to demand that the coconut tree be declared the ‘State Tree’.
GFP leader and Town and Country Planning (TCP) Minister Vijai Sardesai wants the withdrawal of the controversial amendment to the Goa Preservation of Trees (amendment) Act 2016, that declassified coconut as tree by categorizing it as a palm.
“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 the Chief Minister,” Sardesai said.
“We want coconut trees to be saved. For that we want coconut trees to be declared as State tree,” the Minister added.
Amidst strong resentment and uproar by then opposition members Sardesai, Rohan Khaunte and Congress, the former Laxmikant Parsekar government had amended the Act deleting the coconut tree from the purview of ‘tree’.
GFP, which has drawn the agenda to be discussed at the April 17 CMP meeting, has also decided to take up the issue of ‘making Goa look different’.
GFP has also decided to take up the issue of illogical permissions given by the Investment Promotion Board (IPB) especially in 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 the government will have to bring in legislation to ensure that 80 percent of employment is given to locals.
GFP will also raise the issue of subsidizing rice, fish and local bread, which was part of the party’s election manifesto.
