PANAJI
The Supreme Court appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) led by former Environment Secretary PV Jayakrishnan was bombarded with a dozen scientific submissions and complaint letters against the three linear projects it had come to inspect.
The scientific submission most critical of the three projects the CEC was handed is the peer review which exposes the inadequacies of the Environment Impact Assessments (EIAs) for the projects in the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park authored by Punjabi and published by the 'Journal of Threatened Taxa'.
Another report submitted to the CEC by Dr Sinead D’Silva and Shivangini Tandon on January 19 highlights that nearly 29 Goa villages will be affected.
The Dr D'Silva-Tandon duo also authored another submission presented to the CEC on January 20, which lists the socio-cultural impact of the proposed double-tracking project outside the protected areas.
A biodiversity impact assessment and biodiversity management plan critique for the project through Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, including a survey of the 'compensatory afforestation' site, is yet another scientific document the CEC received during their three-day visit to Goa.
The Jayakrishnan-led panel was also presented the letter from 39 scientists regarding diversion of forest land in Kali Tiger Reserve, Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary, and the contiguous tiger habitats of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park. This letter was penned by the scientists in November last year.
Other submissions made to the CEC include the analysis of road accidents from in and around Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park published by Zoo's Print scientific journal and the letter by former National Board of Wild Life member and author-conservationist Prerna Singh Bindra.
Bindra in her letter outlined the ongoing 'people's movement' in Goa to save the forests and urged the CEC to "revoke" the decision to allow the projects in and around the sanctuary and the national park, citing .
