How greedy is my valley…

Goa preservation of Trees (amendment) Act 2016
The Act that declassified coconut as “tree” allegedly came into force at a time when the controversial M/s Vani Agro’s alcohol and brewery plant was granted permission at Amdai village in Sanguem taluka. The company led to destruction of over 470 coconut trees to facilitate their alcohol plant. The Act was an amendment to the Goa Daman and Diu Preservation of Trees Act, 1984. The decision included omission of Sec 1-A and inclusion of coconut tree in Section 12-A, “Removal of trees” etc, which are in ruinous or likely to fall.
Government witnessed major opposition and criticism to their move to declare coconut as “palm”. Right from political forces to environmentalist, the Act was uprightly opposed. However, BJP-led government, with their majority, succeeded in passing the legislation and implementing the same.
Trying to justify its stand, Government claimed that the amendments are done to benefit the common person. It will simplify and speeds up the permission for cutting or felling of tree. While omitting coconut from section 1-A, had brought it under purview of section 12A (permission for felling of trees).
Goa Regularization of Unauthorized Construction Ordinance 2016
A ‘Vote Bank’ move of the BJP-led government is something on which the political opponents have maintained silence, indirectly welcoming it, considering it will pay fruitful even to them. Government is set to regularize more than lakh of illegal structures (cutoff date February 28, 2014) to please the voters. Ahead of ensuing State Elections, political rivals have also preferred to maintain the silence on the controversial issue. This legislation is a direct bribe by the legislators voted to power by Goans to protect their land, to migrants in slums, and those who have violated laws to build structures. It’s a bribe given for votes.
Even though, the Ordinance clearly spells out that the structures built in the protect forest areas or CRZ or khazan land or eco-sensitive areas, the fact cannot be ignored that nearly 50 percent of the unauthorized or illegal structures are lying on these lands. Government has already contaminating possibility to amend the Ordinance to regularize structures in wildlife sanctuaries and if so, then this will be followed by other no development areas leading to mass destruction of environment.
Dumping of Iron ore outside Lease Boundaries
It is not a hidden fact that the age-old iron ore industry in the State has already made devastating impact on the environment over the decades. And now, the Union Ministry of Mines’ decision endorsing State’s proposal to allow dumping of ore outside the lease boundary, will further led to destruction of the ecology. In most of the cases, the lease boundaries are surrounded by settlements, forest areas, wildlife sanctuaries and eco-sensitive zones. Allowing dumping of ore in these areas will have long term impact on the ecology and wildlife. It is to be noted that nearly 45 percent of the ore rejects are already lying in the Forest areas and the Government was of the view that the same should be lifted to avoid environmental degradation.
Greenfield International Airport at Mopa in Pernem Taluka
The foundation stone for the project is expected to be laid in the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in August. The project coming up along the State boarder saw immense opposition from the locals as well as people from South Goa.
The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study conducted by the Engineers India Limited, though given its green signal to the project stating that there won’t be any major impact on air, water, or land resource or environment, the locals and environmental experts had different views to express. The project is coming up at an area which is ecologically fragile and habitat for many endangered species.
The project, estimated at the cost of Rs 3000 crore, will lead to major destruction of wildlife in the area. The water for the project is expected to be drawn from Tillari irrigation canal, which was built only to facilitate farmers. Also the commencement of the project will result into drying up of nearly 43 perennial springs which support farming and agriculture and fisheries of Chapora and Tiracol rivers. Coming up at an area of 81,29,455 sq.mts, Government has already fell thousands of trees for the project.
Investment Promotion Board under Investment Promotion Act
The Goa Investment Promotion Act 2014 is the Master stroke of the Laxmikant Parsekar led government, which supersedes all other laws related to land and environment. The Act clearly mentions that ‘Notwithstanding anything contained in any other State law for the time being in force, the Board shall, for the purpose of promoting and facilitating investments, exercise the powers of any statutory authority’.
Under the Act, the Investment Promotion and Facilitation Board is been constituted under chairmanship of Parsekar. It has so far granted in-principal approvals to 89 projects, most of which are hospitality and expansions. The Board has allowed conversion of more than lakhs of sq mtrs settlement, orchard and agricultural land into commercial and industrial zones.
Ozone Group’s Hotel Project at Vanxim
Goa Investment Promotion Board (GIPB) has cleared the controversial project of Ozone group under the eco-tourism category at Vanxim island which was at halt since 2010 after the protest from residents of Vanxim island.
According to local residents of Vanxim the church has violated the civil as well as canon laws (Law that governs the affairs of the church) while selling the property to Mahendra Gaunekar who has later sold this property to the Ozone Group a company based in Bangalore. According to the official details, the sale deed was signed between Church and Mahendra Gaunekar on February 11, 2006 and on August 11, 2009 the Ozone group and Gaunekar signed the joint agreement.
There are nearly 80 families are residing on island, couple of families have left the island and settled abroad and somewhere else. There is almost 200 population residing over the Vanxim island which is completely surrounded on all four sides by water.
Almost 5,00000 sq mtrs of the land on Vanxim island was sold to Mahendra Gaunekar for Rs 20 per sq mtrs in the year 2006 whereas in the year 2009 the property was sold to Ozone group by Gaunekar for Rs 30 crore.
Locals are hesitating against the approval of said project over two reasons, first the project will destroy the ecology of the island and surrounding areas and secondly because of the illegal sale of the church property as they claim.
Vani Agri Beer Factory
Around the Vani Agri Beer Factory land where coconut trees have been felled right left and centre, there are fields aplenty and around 500 tribals living in Amdai ward of Sanguem have been cultivating coconut, arecanut, kokum, paddy among other things. The farmers have been facing infrastructure related issues as the Quinnamol Lift Irrigional Scheme that was meant to augment water supply has failed to deliver but the water resources department (WRD) that looks after the project has given an NOC to the M/S Vani Agro Farms for the installation of a 10 HP electric pump set on River Ugem at Amdai. Locals point out that the fields which are located near Ugem river are dependent on the natural water resource from the river and traditional bhandara as well as the water that is to be supplied by the irrigational canals and that these supplies stand to be adversely affect when the beer factory operations begin.
Proposed Betul Port
The Betul Gram sabha recently unanimously resolved to oppose Proposed Betul port at Betul and this comes against the backdrop of the All Goa Fishermen Union and Cutbona Boat Owner Association also opposing the same.The locals are opposing the port as they believe all the mining transport will shift to Betul which will put the locals at great inconvenience. The roads are narrow and if all the mining transport is shifted here, it will put pressure not only on Betul but Fatopra, Balli and other roads.