MARGAO: Considering the recent setbacks the Tamnar project faced from the Centre and Karnataka’s denial of clearance within its jurisdiction, environmentalists have expressed strong reactions to the Goa Forest Department notifying 17.2228 hectares of land at Sangod, Dharbandora, as reserved forest for compensatory afforestation due to the diversion of 78.297 hectares of land for the construction of the Tamnar transmission line and have questioned a rationale behind the decision.
The environmentalists had expressed hoped that the Goa government would take a more cautious approach, but claimed that despite opposition from activists and panchayat members, the government seems determined to proceed with the project, disregarding the Supreme Court’s strictures against the company.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The notification states that the 1.72 lakh sq mtr area comprising Survey No. 21/1, 22/1, and 24/1-A of Sangod village of Dharbandora taluka has been notified as reserved forest for raising compensatory afforestation in lieu of diversion of 78.297 ha of land for construction of 400 KV D/C Xeldem to Mapusa Transmission Line and Xeldem to Xeldem (existing) 220 KV HTLS D/C Transmission Line in faavour of M/s Goa Tamnar Transmission Project Ltd.
“We can’t understand the rationale behind this decision, despite the fact that the Karnataka government has rightly denied clearance within its a jurisdiction. We hope better sense prevails,” said Orville Dourado Rodrigues, Goencho Ekvott’s (GE) founder.
“While activists led by Amchem Mollem Campaign, Goa Foundation, GE, Chicalim Youth Farmers Club among other NGOs along with some panchayat members have been vociferously opposing the Tamnar Transmission Line project, and despite strictures passed against the company by the Supreme Court, the Goa Government appears to be going ahead with the project in its territorial jurisdiction when Karnataka has said a big ‘no’, whose decision is imperative for the successful implementation of the project; otherwise, it will be a wasteful expenditure of funds from the public exchequer and, more importantly, irreversible loss to our environment,” Rodrigues added.
“The notification of 17 ha of land comprising 3 survey numbers of Sangod has been done in view of the pending contempt petition filed by the Goa Foundation against GTTPL which will come up for hearing on 15.5.2024. Of the three survey numbers, 21/1 is the largest, covering over 10 ha. The entire plot consisting of 2670 trees was allowed to be clear-felled for a sub-station proposed as part of the Tamnar 400 kV High Tension Line project bringing power from Karnataka to Goa. At the present, Goa has a 400 kv HTL from Kolhapur in Maharashtra,” said Claude Alvares, Director of Goa Foundation.
“The land involved in the notification became free after Tamnar decided to shift the sub-station to Dharbandora. Tamnar took a good decision to hand over the land to the Forest Department as punishment for its action of clearing the area of 2,670 forest trees. Earlier, as per the sale deeds, Tamnar had paid over Rs 8 crore for the land. All that land has now become the property of the Forest Department,” Alvares added.
“However, the forest diversion in Goa amounts to 78 ha, which is still a long way to go. The Goa government has proposed compensatory forest regeneration outside the State boundaries, on patches of land offered by the Karnataka government in Karwar and other areas of Karnataka. The Goa Foundation has opposed the idea. It has demanded that forest be regenerated in the State of Goa itself,” Alvares elaborated.
“The Karnataka side of the project, which intends to draw the 400 kV HTL line from Narendra near Dharwad to Dharbandora is now halted because of refusal of the Karnataka Forest Department to allow forest diversion within Karnataka,” Alvares added.
“In the State of Goa, the Forest Department has routinely entertained all requests made to it for destruction of forests and green cover. In the case of Sangod, it entertained an application from Tamnar to remove the 2,670 trees submitted under the Goa Preservation of Trees Act, 1984, so that Tamnar did not have to submit an application under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. Clearly the Forest Department has lost its way. How to get it back to look after and protect Goa’s forests is a serious question. The department was not always this way,” Alvares lamented.
“A good way to begin afresh is to ensure that Tamnar will not be allowed to commission its lines till the department is satisfied that the reforestation of 78 ha has been initiated and successfully achieved. aAt the moment, most reforestation projects of Tamnar in Goa have miserably failed. The Goa Foundation is submitting a report to the Supreme Court in this connection,” Alvares concluded.
“This notification by the Forest Department is a blatant disregard for environmental protection and public sentiment. Despite widespread opposition and concerns raised by activists and local communities, the government seems hell-bent on pushing through this destructive project. Diverting precious forest land like this sets a dangerous precedent and undermines our efforts to preserve Goa’s natural heritage. We cannot sacrifice our ecological treasures in the name of so-called development. This decision is a slap in the face of all those who have been tirelessly advocating for sustainable development and responsible environmental stewardship. It is a betrayal of the trust placed in our authorities to safeguard our state’s unique biodiversity,” said Renata Fernandes, a youth environmentalist, who has been a part of the earlier protests.
