The destruction of trees and forest ecosystems has severely impacted the water table in most areas. Goa has seen a systematic destruction of trees, bypassing regulations of the Goa, Daman and Diu Preservation of Trees Act, 1984.
Most of the projects sanctioned through the last few years, are infrastructure projects mandated by either the State or Centre. The development projects have killed the natural springs, around which most villages are based.
Goa’s already fragile eco-system is at a heightened risk. The percentage of evergreen forest canopy indicates the real health of any forest. The projects are expected to infringe on wildlife sanctuary areas.
Since Goa shares an environment similar to that of Kerala, it is wise to push for unbridled development, considering the havoc that Kerala faced in the recent floods?
Environmentalist Madhav Gadgil, author of the 2011 Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) report, has also argued for caution in the Western Ghats regions of Goa and Maharashtra, warning of flood risks if indiscriminate development continued to disturb natural flows in the region.
