PANJIM: The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has granted its approval to divert around 0.03ha of forest land towards expansion of the existing Karmal Ghat area in Canacona taluka.
The MoEFCC’s Integrated Regional Office, Bangalore in a communication to the Principal Secretary Forest, Goa on June 28 has informed about in-principle approval or stage-I clearance of the Central government for diversion of 0.03 hectare of forest land in Canacona for urgent restoration of existing road formation of NH-66 between Km 572/500 to Km 595/200, which passes through Karmal Ghat area in favour of Executive Engineer, Work Division VII (NH), PWD.
Earlier last week, the Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane had directed Forest officials to expedite the clearances for widening the road on the Karmal Ghat section in Canacona taluka. The road widening was taken up because the stretch is accident-prone.
Canacona MLA and Goa Assembly Speaker Ramesh Tawadkar has been relentlessly pursuing the four-laning of the Karmal Ghat road.
The expansion of the NH 66 highway at Karmal Ghat had witnessed opposition from certain quarters over environmental concerns.
In March, the Central government had conveyed its technical, administrative and financial sanction of Rs 75.46 crore for the long-pending land acquisition for four-laning of NH66 from Char-Rasta (Canacona) to Bendurdem (Quepem) at an approximate distance of 23-km.
