MAPUSA
The villagers of Siolim-Marna on Sunday unanimously resolved to object the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 which threatens the conservation of forests and environment, the fundamental rights of people, socio-economic development of the country and the survival of future generations.
The locals at the gram sabha meeting also decided to object the changes proposed in the Goa Land Development & Building Construction Regulations.
“The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 proposes to amend the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 (FCA) by introducing a preamble and sections 1A and 3C, and by amending section 2 by adding sub-sections (1) and (2). Though the proposed preamble and the statement of objects and reasons declare the objective is to strengthen the protection of forests, all the amendments proposed do exactly the opposite,” said Joachim Barros, VDC Convenor of Siolim-Marna in a written appeal to the village panchayat.
He said if the proposed amendments were to be made then almost 28 percent of the forests will lose protection in the country.
“This will totally devastate the forests, wildlife, biodiversity, environment, water resources, soil generation and fertility and local communities. This wil also imperil the entire Northern Western Ghats, as Goa provides it with the critical connectivity and contiguity to the Southern Western Ghats,” he said.
The VDC member also said that the amendment seeks to lift restrictions on non-forest use of forest land.
He further said that the amendment gives arbitrary powers to the Central government.
“A new section allows the Central government to issue directions to any authority, organisation, or body as may be necessary for the implementation of the FCA. This provision delegates unbridled legislative powers to the Central government in gross violation of the Constitution and FCA. It can only result in weakening of the law for conservation of forests to favour private profit by allowing unsustainable activities that damage forests,” Barros maintained.
Acknowledging the concerns put forward by the VDC convenor, the villagers in one voice decided to oppose the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023.
Further, the gram sabha decided to register all the existing trees in the village and plant over 500 new saplings in different parts of the village.
