PANAJI
The Regional Empowered Committee (REC) of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has deferred Goa’s proposal for forest land diversion for its proposed National Highway 4A expansion -- Panaji to Anmod section -- stating the proposed diversion passes through the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary wherein widening and strengthening of existing road or construction of new road is a regulated activity.
The REC during its meeting held on September 19, flagged multiple concerns: discrepancies in the number of trees to be felled, irregular width of rights of way (RoW), and inconsistencies in proposed compensatory afforestation areas.
REC has sought State’s reply on whether Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study of the project has been undertaken. It has also sought additional details on tree felling, compensatory afforestation, environmental impact, and Right of Way (RoW) demarcation. The committee also asked the project proponent to submit soil and moisture conservation plans, muck disposal strategies, and wildlife mitigation measures
The application, seeking diversion of 31.53 ha of forest land in Mollem for widening of four-laning of Goa-Karnataka border- Panaji section- submitted by the PWD’s Ponda work division, is pending before the Ministry since 2020.
The committee stressed that no approval will be granted until all concerns are addressed, highlighting the importance of environmental safeguards in the Western Ghats, a critical ecological zone shared by both Goa and Karnataka.
“The area proposed for diversion is passing through the ESZ of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and as per the ESZ notification of the said sanctuary, widening and strengthening of existing roads and construction of new roads is a regulated activity with the remark that it shall be done with proper Environment Impact Assessment and mitigation measures, applicable. The status of the same may be submitted,” REC said.
REC also noted that as per the proposal submitted by the Deputy Conservator of Forest, the number of trees marked for felling is 7724. However, in the recommendation submitted by the Project Screen Committee, during a meeting, held on 28.01.2025 the number of trees to be felled is mentioned as 8102. “Therefore, the State Government is requested to clarify the exact number of trees to be felled,” REC said.
The Committee said that since the project involves felling of large number of trees, the State government is requested to submit a Soil and Moisture Conservation Plan to prevent soil erosion.
The REC also asked for updated KML files, revised Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), and clarifications regarding transmission lines and alternatives explored for the proposal.
