Over 43,000 saplings pending as agencies fail to meet compensatory plantation conditions
PANAJI
More than 33,000 saplings are yet to be planted to compensate for trees cut for road infrastructure projects over the past five years. Taking a strict stand on long delays, the State Tree Authority (STA) has warned the Public Works Department (PWD) that no new permissions for tree felling will be granted unless pending plantation work is completed, except in cases of overriding public interest.
At its meeting held in July, the STA said continued failure to carry out mandatory compensatory plantation would lead to “adverse ramifications” for defaulting user agencies. The Authority noted that nearly 43,117 trees remain to be replanted by various State and Central government agencies, with the PWD being the biggest defaulter.
In its latest meeting, chaired by the Chief Secretary, the STA decided to strictly follow the directions of the High Court, which has clearly stated that the Forest Department should not grant fresh permissions to private parties or government departments unless earlier approvals are fully complied with to its satisfaction.
Quoting the High Court, the Authority said that in exceptional cases involving overwhelming public interest, permissions may still be considered even if replantation work is pending. However, the concerned department must submit a clear action plan, give undertakings and provide an additional security deposit to ensure the pending plantation work is completed.
The STA also warned that security deposits will be forfeited if replantation and maintenance are not carried out as per the conditions laid down while granting permissions. It added that requests for refund of security deposits will not be considered unless replantation and maintenance are completed for a minimum period of five years.
Earlier, the STA had directed all departments and user agencies to prepare a detailed execution plan and submit it at the next meeting.
Apart from the PWD, several other agencies have also failed to meet replantation targets. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) has not replanted 1,638 trees for its double-tracking project. MIT University has a shortfall of 1,605 trees, INS Mandovi 1,137 trees, Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation 921 trees, another 720 trees linked to a transmission project, and the Tourism Department has a pendency of 540 trees.
As per existing norms, permission to fell trees is granted only on the condition that compensatory plantation of indigenous forest species is carried out. This requires planting five saplings for every non-Acacia tree felled and three saplings for every Acacia tree cut.
