the goan I network
PANAJI
The National Green Tribunal has directed the Goa government to place before it the report of the Private Forests Committee, that was rejected by previous forest minister Vijai Sardesai.
Hearing a petition filed by the Goa Foundation, the NGT said that they would also consider the reasons for why the report was rejected.
“We are of the view that it would be of relevance to go through the final report referred to by the applicant if such a report does exist. It would also be necessary to consider the reasons for the rejection of the report submitted by the Review Committee,” the NGT ruled.
“We accordingly, direct the State of Goa to place before us the report of the Review Committee submitted on 21.06.2019 and specify the reason for rejecting the same by way of an affidavit. This shall be filed before the next date without fail with a copy on the
other side,” the NGT said.
It may be recalled that then Forest Minister Vijai Sardesai, had suddenly decided to reject the report on private forests submitted before him allegedly in the name of ‘Goenkarponn.’
“The final report of the Review Committee was submitted to the Goa government well in time. However, the then Forest Minister arbitrarily rejected the report. The costs of rejection of the report are there for all to see. Minister do not only cost the people of the state when they rule, the public continues to pay costs for their expensive mistakes even after they are no longer ministers,” Claude Alvares director of the Goa Foundation said.
This report will now have to be placed before the NGT despite it being rejected.
Last month the National Green Tribunal had pulled up the Goa Government for failing to submit the report of private forests on time and has asked the Government of Goa to submit a performance guarantee of Rs1 crore.
The NGT in its order has also asked the government to submit the report within three months or else face further fines of Rs 50 lakh.
