Owners can construct only for domestic purposes
PANAJI
The Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has allowed homestead owners in Goa’s private forest to construct residential houses upto a maximum of 250 sq metres of built-up area. The provision, which has also been made applicable to Mussorie area of Uttarakhand, has, however, banned construction of institutional and commercial buildings on such land.
In a communication issued to the Goa government, the Union Ministry has issued guidelines on homestead owners who can be allowed to construct in private and deemed forest areas of Goa. As per the guidelines, construction activity for residential purposes in private forest shall be allowed only for domestic purposes and shall not be extended to any institutional buildings or commercial development.
Also, the Construction activities shall be restricted to a maximum of 250 square metre of built-up area (2,690 sq feet) in each case. And that the construction of residential buildings in private forest is permitted only in order to alleviate hardship of homestead owners for constructing/ completing their bona fide residential buildings.
The ministry added that the cut of date for “deciding the status of the homestead” will be February 11, 2011, and the construction cannot be in excess of 250 sq mtrs.
“In case of any sub-division of ownership of the forest land post 11.02.2011, the construction activities shall be restricted in such a way that the total of all construction activities in such sub-divided portions post 11.02.2011 should not exceed a maximum of 250 square metre of built-up area,” the Ministry said.
It also clarified that permissions for construction is subject to conditions such as minimal tree felling, sufficient soil conservation measures being taken and all other standard conditions required for such projects including planting of tree species and paying net present value of the forest area being applicable.
