Green activists in Goa have expressed strong dissatisfaction with the recent amendment to the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), arguing that excluding certain tracts of forests from its purview will lead to detrimental development and destroy Goa’s lush green cover.
The activists, most of whom have submitted their objection to the Central government, contended that the Preamble, which commits to saving India’s forests and increasing the area, is contrary to the amendments that do not by an iota indicate enhanced protection of forests or increase in the area of forests.
NGO Goa Foundation emphasised that it is high time India’s defence establishment recognises “green infrastructure” including forests and other ecological resources as an integral part of the country’s security requirements.
“At present, forest diversion proposals up to 40 hectares are already being dealt with by Regional Expert Committees, so that there is no delay in consideration of proposals. If time is still a problem, these projects can always be put up on a priority list before such committees. Further, all defence and security-related projects can be lined exclusively before the FAC for quick disposal,” GF Director Claude Alvares elaborated.
Activists demand answer over exclusion
Claiming that the exclusion is unnecessary, Alvares also pointed out that the Parliament, through the FCA 1980, removed the authority of state governments to carry out diversion proposals without central government consent. Therefore, he demanded that the Centre should provide compelling reasons for exempting forest diversion proposals from the Act.
“We firmly oppose the exclusion of forests along rail and road infrastructure of up to 0.10 hectares (or 1,000 sq mts) from FCA. No justification is provided (by the Central government)... Significant forest cover will be lost since the creation of such infrastructure along roads and railways across the country would be considerable,” he added.
His views were backed by noted environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar who charged the authorities with giving a backdoor entry to mining activities following the changes to the legislation. “We do not have a huge natural forest cover. The lush green that we see is majorly cultivable land. We need to protect what we have but unfortunately, there are attempts to allow destructive development like mining,” he alleged.
Include sacred groves to ensure protection
Environmentalist Tallulah D’Silva demanded that Goa’s assets “ the Western Ghats and forest land “ should be protected as these make Goa the top biodiversity hotspot in India.
Alvares went on to add that naturally growing vegetation and wilderness areas are locations for continuing evolution of plant species and if the Act cannot protect them, this is a serious inadequacy. “Sacred groves in several states do not come under the purview of the new definition of forest land provided in the proposed amendment. They have been thus far protected, without recourse to FCA, 1980. Their protection needs to be brought within the framework of the FCA, 1980, with the permanent condition that they cannot be diverted without the express approval of local communities that manage them,” he demanded.
Kerkar further added that the Act might cost the forest cover of Goa and sought to know reasons behind the amendment to the 1980 Act which provided overall protection to the forests in the country.
The green activists have highlighted the complex challenges of balancing development and environmental conservation, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions like Goa.
