A mind-boggling 1.4 crore sq m or 21% of the green cover in Pernem taluka is proposed to be converted into settlement zone by the Goa government which is an ecocide of sorts. Under sustained pressure from the citizenry the sarkar has deigned to extend the deadline for submission of objections to their nefarious designs by 30 days. This decision was announced after the Centre in a rare move stepped in and issued directions, no less a person than Amit Shah, the home minister called the Goa TCP minister and asked him to lie low for a while . Meanwhile Rane has said that he has kept the plan in abeyance keeping the people's wishes in mind. All this has nothing to do with concern for the green cover in the state but everything to do with 5 states going to polls by this year end. Note that the zoning plan has not been 'scrapped' yet but I am sure that once the elections are done with, it will be implemented with full force brushing aside the objections of niz Goenkars. The BJP is trying to hoodwink the people by this 'abeyance', civil society needs to be extra vigilant to thwart any future moves by the state and Central government to destroy Goa's green cover in the name of development. With the commissioning of the Mopa airport land prices in Pernem have almost trebled and the real estate sharks have their eyes set firmly on the large parcels of land off which they can make massive profits.
