TNN | Mar 18, 2014, 06.30 AM IST
PANAJI: A large patch of a moist deciduous forest on a steep slope burnt by unknown persons in Salem, Salvador do Mundo, is part of an area identified as a private forest by a government-appointed committee.
An area of roughly 3,000-sq m out of the total 18,275 sq m in survey no 355/1 had been stripped and partly burnt in mid-February 2014, sources said. A sizable part of the area on the steep hill slope has been marked as no development zone (NDZ) in RP 2021.
It has now come to light that this parcel of land is occupied by a hotels and resorts company. Deforestation of the hill slope was seen as a precursor to commencement of the project or an attempt to avoid identification of the area as a private forest.
The forest department had registered a case under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, as 74 trees with a girth of 45 to 55cm and some even less were cleared at the site.
National green tribunal, had in an order in November 2013, directed the government to identify and demarcate the private forest shown as natural cover in RP 2021 in Salvador do Mundo within six months. A North Goa committee headed by former forest official, V T Thomas is at work surveying the village forest.
The villagers are confused, as they have been misled by some into thinking that they will lose their land.
But government officials and others have tried to convince them in a few meetings that there is no change in ownership. Some owners alleged the process is unfair as they will not be able to use their lands for construction of houses for their younger kin. A few have started planting coconut trees and non-forest species in a bid to show a different land use pattern.
Forest department is also working out some formula to allow land owners to use part of the land for plantation.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Was-Salvador-do-Mundo-private-forest-burnt-for-hotel-project/articleshow/32228324.cms
PANAJI: A large patch of a moist deciduous forest on a steep slope burnt by unknown persons in Salem, Salvador do Mundo, is part of an area identified as a private forest by a government-appointed committee.
An area of roughly 3,000-sq m out of the total 18,275 sq m in survey no 355/1 had been stripped and partly burnt in mid-February 2014, sources said. A sizable part of the area on the steep hill slope has been marked as no development zone (NDZ) in RP 2021.
It has now come to light that this parcel of land is occupied by a hotels and resorts company. Deforestation of the hill slope was seen as a precursor to commencement of the project or an attempt to avoid identification of the area as a private forest.
The forest department had registered a case under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, as 74 trees with a girth of 45 to 55cm and some even less were cleared at the site.
National green tribunal, had in an order in November 2013, directed the government to identify and demarcate the private forest shown as natural cover in RP 2021 in Salvador do Mundo within six months. A North Goa committee headed by former forest official, V T Thomas is at work surveying the village forest.
The villagers are confused, as they have been misled by some into thinking that they will lose their land.
But government officials and others have tried to convince them in a few meetings that there is no change in ownership. Some owners alleged the process is unfair as they will not be able to use their lands for construction of houses for their younger kin. A few have started planting coconut trees and non-forest species in a bid to show a different land use pattern.
Forest department is also working out some formula to allow land owners to use part of the land for plantation.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Was-Salvador-do-Mundo-private-forest-burnt-for-hotel-project/articleshow/32228324.cms
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