TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Union Minister for Environment and Forests (MoEF) Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday gave the government till December 15 to demarcate the ecologically-sensitive areas in the State’s Western Ghats, after the State pointed out loopholes in the Dr Kasturirangan Committee report.
Javadekar held a meeting with Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Environment Minister Alina Saldanha and other officials, where Goa put forth its demand on a resurvey to demarcate the ecologically-sensitive areas in the State following notification by the MoEF declaring 99 villages in three talukas of Goa as eco-sensitive.
The Chief Minister had brought to the notice of the Union Minister that there are certain villages in talukas of Canacona and Sanguem, which do not form contiguity with the Western Ghats, but are still included in the eco-sensitive areas, while in few cases entire village has been marked as protected area.
“The Union Minister has given the State, time till December 15, to demarcate and submit its report,” a senior official said.
Meanwhile, the State government on behalf of traditional coastal inhabitants submitted a proposal to Union Minister for Environment and Forest (MoEF) Prakash Javadekar seeking relaxation to their houses which come under Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and are being identified for demolition by amending the rules to give them relief if their dwellings existed there prior to 1991.
Javadekar has assured the State that he would consider the matter and resolve it at the earliest. “Only those cases, wherein there are no commercial structures, can be considered for relaxation, we have said,” an official said.
Parrikar also submitted a memorandum to Javadekar listing out difficulties it has to face due to NGT orders. “If we consider all the notices together, we will have to virtually set up an office in Delhi to deal with the tribunal,” he said.
“I cannot keep on sending my officers to Delhi. Anyone approaches the tribunal and without listening to us, notices are being issued,” he stated.
