<p>Affidavit by the state of Goa in the matter of news item titled "India lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover since 2000 global forest watch" appearing in the Indian Express dated April
Residents from Maina, Pirla, Cavrem, Colomba and adjoining areas are gearing to oppose Goa Pollution Control Board's public hearing for renewal of mining leases. According to sources, Goa Pollution Control board has fixed three pubic hearings of three mines at Chandreshwar Temple, Cotto, Amona-Quepem on June 21. Villagers alleged that the mine owner who had applied for renewal of mining lease has already started mining operations, causing extensive damage to the environment. "The mine owner was booked and fined by the forest department for illegal cutting of trees,' said a local.
Leader of Opposition Manohar Parrikar alongwith MLAs Francis Dsouza, Damodar Naik and Milind Naik issued a Memorandum to the Chief Secretary J P Singh, which seeks a ban on Plaster of Paris Ganesha idols.
The SEZ Virodhi Manch has reiterated that no compensation whatsoever should be paid by the government to the SEZ promoters, saying the Board of approvals have violated SEZ rules in hastily approving the notifying the SEZ. Welcoming the government decision of revoking the land allotted for SEZ purpose by the GIDC and claiming it to be a victory of the people, the Manch prayed that there is no hidden agenda in the decision and that the government stays with the people in the same manner till the land is finally revoked officially and the three notified SEZs are denotified.
The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) has tied up with Pune-based Sharmik Sanitations to provide mobile sanitation facilities in the city of Panjim. The Commissioner of the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) Melwyn Vaz disclosed that the corporation proposes to hire mobile toilets to be stationed in public places for he purpose of providing basic sanitation facilities.
Inspection of a mega housing project in Grande-Vanelilm in Colva has revealed that a well shown on the survey plan has ceased to exist on the ground, while storm water drain leading to a water pond stands filled up with mud. What's more, the inspection report read out by Panchayat Secretary, Rajendra Naik in the presence of Sarpanch Suzie Fernandes revealed that land filling has taken place, including the filling up of a ghairo (cowdung pond). The inspection was conducted as per last Sunday's gram Sabha meeting following a complaint lodged by Reena Fernandes and Menino Fernandes.
Palash Kumar A separate clause is being introduced in Rule 19 of the SEZ rules as 19(8) to allow the government to set up its project to build strategic oil reserves on SEZ land without the mandatory export condition.
Office of the Executive Engineer, Works Division XXI (PHE), PWD, Fatorda has invited applications from the residents of Vasco at the localities wherever sewerage network is provided to avail the facility to get connected to the sewerage system under the "Subsidized Sewerage Connection Scheme'.
For a change, the quarterly meeting of North Goa Zilla Panchayat (NGZP) held today turned out to be without any trouble. Congratulatory motions dominated the meeting. A motion was moved congratulating the government about its decision to go head with the proposed Mopa International airport. There was also a motion moved congratulating the government for scrapping Special Economic Zone (SEZs.) Both the motions were moved by Upadhyaksha Kishore Narvekar. A motion was also moved congratulating Adhayaksha Amol Morajkar for completing one year in office.
Goa Pradesh Youth Congress, while welcoming the resolution of Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) to cancel and revoke land allotments to SEZ companies in Goa, has ridiculed the Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar for refusing to appreciate Chief Minister Digambar Kamat's decision to scrap SEZ from Goa. GPYC chief Sankalp Amonkar said CM deserved kudos for his latest decision to cancel land allotment to SEZ promoters.
While the forest department in the state is busy organising Vanamahotsava programmes on a big scale, officials at the forest department at Kalay village allegedly went on tree cutting spree early Thursday morning. Sources told Herald that the three officials attached to the Kalay Range of the Forest Department entered the cashew plantation of some tribals at Kamamoll-Kalay and cut about 70 cashew trees planted by the tribals some years ago.
