CM assures to probe conversion licence issued for forest land (Herald)

October 18, 2013 TEAM HERALD PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said that he would conduct a proper investigation into corruption while issuing sanad of a case in Porvorim constituency. Replying to a query by MLA Rohan Khaunte to the Revenue Minister Francis D’ Souza, the chief minister also said that joint inspection would be conducted by the four departments involved amidst allegations of hill cutting and illegalities by forest department who the independent MLA claimed had allowed tree cutting above and beyond what was legally allowed. The plateau of Porvorim, consists of several villages including Socorro, Salvador do Mundo, Penha de Franca, Sangolda, Betim etc. According to existing rules no forest having a density of over 0.1 per cent wild trees can be allowed for conversion, and the department can give NOCs only if the forest density is below 0.1 per cent. In order to reduce the density, Khaunte said the applicants had illegally cut almost 91 trees in one case by conniving with forest officials, after which the revenue department gave conversion sanad on the basis of NOC given by the forest department. “This is inter-departmental corruption,” Khaunte alleged, demanding a joint inspection by the officials of Forest, Town and Country Planning, Mamlatdar and Inspector of Survey and Land Records. He also quoted the high court ruling, as per which no conversion sanad could be granted without NOC from forest. http://heraldgoa.in/News/Local%20News/CM-assures-to-probe-conversion-licence-issued-for-forest-land/80805.html