Team Herald
PANJIM: Limited resources and manpower has hit the functioning of the nine-member Private Forest Review Committee, constituted to examine the findings of the Sawant and Karapurkar Committee report, as directed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). The government has now extended the committee’s term by six months till March 31, 2019. The committee, constituted in April 2018, was due to submit its report next month by September 30.
“Considering the technical difficulties, limited resources and manpower, government has extended the period of submission of report by the review committee for a period of six months excluding monsoon session, that is till March 31, 2019,” a statement issued by Forest Department stated.
The committee has to assess the 42.12 sq km identified as private forest by Sawant and Karapurkar committee, nearly a decade back.
Sources further said that the ocular assessment of private forest areas has been completed and now the areas are being verified using forest maps and boundaries of privately owned areas provided by the DSLR/Revenue Department. “It is not an easy task and it requires manpower, which is in shortfall,” sources added.
Sources said that in view of the grievances received from citizens and NGOs, regarding inclusion and non inclusion of certain areas as private forest, and in order to ensure a uniform approach towards the issue, the review committee was constituted.
The new Committee comprises the Deputy Conservator of Forest – Ponda as Chairperson and Director Settlement and Land records, Additional Collector North and South Goa, Assistant Conservator of Forest of North and South Goa division and environmentalist Sandeep Azrenkar, and Shirang Jhamble as members.
