the goan I network
PANAJI
The decision of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to allot the work of ‘greening' the national highway corridors to the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation has raised eyebrows especially in light of the fact that the Forest Development Corporation would ideally be suited for the job.
A memorandum of understanding to develop green corridor with model plantation and beautification on the National Highway stretch passing through Goa was signed last week between the MoRTH and the GSIDC. The project costing Rs 100 Crores will be funded by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and GSIDC will execute and maintain the same.
The first to raise objections was the Congress' Girish Chodankar who questioned why the GSIDC, which was set up to develop infrastructure in the State was engaged in tasks that should either be handled by the Forest Department of Forest Development Corporation.
"There are certain works that are meant for certain departments. But here we see that the Chief Minister allots the work to whom to likes. The GSIDC has been set up to take care of infrastructure works but this work relates to the environment, forestry and planting of trees. The Forest Corporation is best equipped for this. When there is an independent Forest Corporation why is the government handing the work to the GSIDC," Congress secretary Girish Chodankar asked.
"Is it because Prasad Gaonkar is hails from the ST Community? The so called Bahujan Samaj leaders from the BJP should answer this question," Chodankar asked.
The Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation is headed by Deepak Prabhu Pauskar of the MGP as chairman while Parrikar's close aide Siddharth Kuncalienkar is the Vice Chairman.
When contacted, Prasad Gaonkar tersely said that he is unaware of what the MoU entailed and the details of the MoU signed between the GISDC and the MoRTH.
While the entire project involves greening the Mumbai-Goa Highway, GSIDC will take care of the Goa sector. Crucially the entire stretch falling in Maharashtra is being handled by the Maharashtra Forest Department and allied agencies.
The MoRTH guidelines themselves mandate that the forest departments should be involved in the greening.
The aim of the Green Highways Policy as advertised by the MoRTH is "to develop eco-friendly National Highways with participation of the community, farmers, NGOs, private sector, institutions, government agencies and the Forest Department for economic growth and development in a sustainable manner."
The policy was unveiled in 2015 for undertaking plantation, transplantation, beautification and maintenance activities along national highways.
In its defence the GSIDC can claim that it also has been tasked with preparing a people's biodiversity register for the areas under the Corporation of the City of Panaji which they are doing in collaboration with TERI.
CONGRESS
IN ATTACK MODE
Why is GSIDC engaged in tasks that should either be handled by Forest Dept of Forest Development Corp?
There are certain works that are meant for certain departments, but the Chief Minister allots work to whom he likes
GSIDC has been set up to take care of infrastructure works but this work relates to the environment, forestry and planting of trees
Forest Corporation is best equipped for this... There is no need to hand over the work to the GSIDC
MoRTH GUIDELINES
Forest departments should be involved in greening
Aim is to develop eco-friendly National Highways with participation of the community, farmers, NGOs, private sector, institutions, government agencies and the Forest Department
Policy entails undertaking plantation, transplantation, beautification and maintenance activities along national highways
FLASHBACK: MOU
A memorandum of understanding to develop green corridor with model plantation and beautification on National Highway stretch passing through Goa was signed last week between the MoRTH & GSIDC
The project costing `100 crore is to be funded by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and GSIDC will execute and maintain the same
