Team Herald
PORVORIM: Environment Minister Nilesh Cabral on Wednesday told the House that the three proposed linear projects, passing through the protected areas of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and the National Park, do not require Environment Clearances (ECs).
Stating that the projects are proposed and adopted as per the Forest and Wildlife Rules and Regulation, Cabral ruled out conducting a cumulative impact assessment study of the three projects – double tracking of railway line, power transmission line and national highway expansion – stating that there is no such provision for the same.
Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte had tabled questions with regards to the three linear projects, wherein the MLA sought to know the status and its need for the State.
“Environmental clearances are not applicable for the mentioned 03 projects in Goa as per the project specifications,” Cabral said referring to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) notification dated September 14, 2006 and August 22, 2013.
Cabral said there is no provision to assess cumulative impact of the projects, as they are independent in nature and proposed by different user agencies at different time intervals.
Admitting that the State government received a large number of representations, the Minister said that since the projects are proposed and adopted following all rules and guidelines of Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 and Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, no action was required to be taken with regards to those representations.
