the goan I network
PANAJI
Around 15 concerned citizens on Monday slammed the top officials of the Forest Department for their abject refusal to act against the allegedly illegal violation of trees at Mopa by GMR.
One of the protestors, Swapnesh Sherlekar informed that the group had appealed against the order of the Deputy Conservator of Forests, North granting permission to GMR for felling 21,703 trees.
Protesting at Azad Maidan on Monday, Sherlekar said, “We had filed an appeal before the Chief Conservator of Forests. They have told us in as many words that they have done their job and that they cannot change their decision unless we get a stay order from the National Green Tribunal in New Delhi.”
The group of citizens, who were made to wait at the office of Chief Conservator of Forests for over three hours for the hearing, attempted to tell him that as per the order of the NGT dated November 22, 2017, being the lawful authority, it is the forest department which has the final word in the matter.
“Forest Department however has washed its hands off this matter. No other department can take this decision But they claim that this is a government project and that the Preservation of Trees Act is not applicable to the government,” Sherlekar said after the hearing.
The appeal filed against the No Objection Certificate granted for felling of the trees was accordingly dismissed by the Conservator of Forests.
The protesters has also disputed that the 90 lakh sq mts area allotted to the Greenfield Airport at Mopa has 21,703 trees.
“They should count all the trees and then plant three times the number as per the Act. Replantation should be done as per the law. Under-reporting of the number of trees is suspect,” Sherlekar said.
The group of citizens also pleaded the forest department to act in order to protect some plant species found on the plateau which are rare and cannot be found elsewhere in the world. “We have written to the department about this but they have refused to document it. They have conveniently turned a blind eye,” said Sandip Kambli, another citizen.
The group has now resolved to knock on all doors to prevent the blatant violation of law at Mopa.
