MAPUSA
Former Deputy Chief Minister Dayanand Narvekar has voiced deep concern over the rapid destruction of Goa’s environment, questioning how much of the State will remain intact in the next five years.
Narvekar lamented the large-scale deforestation, hill-cutting, and construction encroachments in ecologically sensitive areas.
“The real issue is how many more forests will be wiped out and how many hills will be razed. People have started encroaching on water bodies, forests, and agricultural fields. If this continues, what will remain of Goa?” he questioned while speaking to journalists at a Congress-organised event in Mapusa.
Narvekar emphasised that the current situation cannot be blamed on a single individual, as multiple players have contributed to Goa’s environmental degradation over the years.
Comparing the present to his tenure in the 1980s, he highlighted the stark difference in governance concerning environmental protection.
Recalling efforts made during his time in government, Narvekar credited former Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane for introducing the Forest Conservation Act to safeguard Goa’s green cover.
