PANAJI
Taking serious cognisance of the Agriculture Department’s failure to have data on the number of plant nurseries in the State, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has sought a detailed Action Taken Report on the matter.
'The Goan', in its March 12 edition, had highlighted that the State Agriculture Department has no data on the number of nurseries in the State nor those whose licences, issued almost two years back, have expired or those who are operating sans permissions.
Highly placed sources confirmed that the Chief Minister’s Office in a communication to the department has directed to “examine the media report” and “take necessary action at the earliest”.
Sources said that based on the directions of the Chief Minister, the agriculture department has directed all its Zonal Agriculture Offices to submit reports on the number of nurseries operating within their jurisdiction. “The ZAOs are asked to submit information on the total number of nurseries operating, those with permissions, those without permissions, etc.,” sources said.
Sources informed that ZAO Valpoi and Mormugao were quick to provide information while the data from other offices are awaited. “The department will compile all the data and submit a comprehensive report as sought by CMO,” sources said. “All ZAOs were asked to submit the report within 48 hours but they are yet to respond,” sources said.
It’s been over 25 years since the Goa Fruit and Ornamental Plant Nurseries (Regulation) Act, 1995 was notified but till date the government has yet to draft Rules under the Act, thereby lacking the teeth for want of punitive action to crack down on the illegal plant nurseries mushrooming across the State.
Way back in 1997, the fee notified to register was Rs 1000 and the same continues till date. “CMO has also taken note of the same and has sought an explanation,” sources said.
Though the Zonal Agriculture Officer is a nursery inspector under the provisions of the Goa Fruit and Ornamental Plant Nurseries (Regulation) Act 1995, a senior official conceded that in the absence of a punitive provision in the Act, there is no clarity as to who will act upon such illegal nurseries. The roadside nurseries are dominated in the talukas of Bardez, Tiswadi and Salcete talukas.
The department had in 2018 issued a public notice making it mandatory for vendors to install a board with details of the licences; however, none of the existing nurseries have any boards displayed.
There are 100 plant nurseries in Goa that have been issued licences over the past 25 years since the Act was implemented in 1997, but the department has no idea as to how many of them have been renewed or are still operational.
