PANJIM: The State government will file its reply on the buffer zone of wild life sanctuaries before the Supreme Court and a copy to this will be sent to Union Ministry of Forest and Environment, department officials said.

The Union ministry had recently accused the Goa government of not replying to its queries and asked the Supreme Court to direct it to do the needful. “We are filing our say. The file has been approved,” Principal chief conservator of forests Richard D’ Souza told Herald, adding that they would file the reply before the Supreme Court and the MoEF.

PANJIM: The verdict is out! At long last, Goa can authoritatively pride itself as being home to its very own big cat – the majestic tiger. The ‘stripe matching’ of the Goan tiger was authenticated by a top tiger expert, authorities said.

Tiger stripes are unique, with each one like a fingerprint and identifies the stately animal. Dr K Ullas Karanth, a conservation zoologist and leading tiger expert based in Karnataka, who is working closely with the state on tigers, has confirmed to the Forest Department that the tiger that was photographed recently was unique to Goa and not part of any of the 600 tigers who live in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

PANJIM: The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests told the Supreme Court that “it had no choice” but to consider the area within 10 km of all national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Goa, as ecologically sensitive zones, thus bringing a majority of mining leases in the State within the zone.

In an affidavit filed in the SC, the MoEF argues that they have been forced by the non-cooperative attitude of the State government despite it pursuing the matter, and wants the Apex court to ask the government to comply.

Over 1000 Goans hit by the iron ore mining ban on Thursday began a 2-day "dharna" at Jantar Mantar near the Parliament House here under the banner of the Leftist Goenchea Mining Lokancho Manch (Goa

MARGAO: Finally taking cognizance of the 25,000 tons of hazardous waste lying unattended in the Cuncolim Industrial estate, Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar on Thursday issued a host of directions to the IDC as well as the occupier of the plot containing the waste in the Industrial estate.

Parrikar set a 15-day deadline on Ms The Axis to cover the hazardous waste with tarpaulin sheets as a temporary measure in view of the fast approaching monsoons. Secondly, the IDC was directed to hand over the plot of land to The Axis to set up a captive land site facility. The Axis in turn was directed the set up the captive land fill site on scientific lines in consultation with the Goa State Pollution Control Board

PANJIM: The Goa Government has tabled the Goa Cess on Products and Substances Causing Pollution (Green Cess) Bill, 2013 to levy cess till 2 per cent of the sale value on products and substances causing pollution.

The bill defines these products as: “those which upon their handling, consumption, utilization, combustion, or movement or transportation causes pollution of the lithosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and other environmental resources and causes emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases or discharge other types of effluents...”

All eyes are focused on the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) since its directions to Ms The Axis and Ms Sunrise Zinc to transfer and store the 25,000 tons of hazardous waste inside a shed

Out of the operational mines, prior to the ban on mining by the Apex Court, the Goa government Wednesday claimed that at least 60 could be in a position to resume operations, if the ban was lifted

Tightening the screws on Ms Sunrise Zinc Ltd, which had generated thousands of tons of hazardous waste in the Cuncolim Industrial Estate, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has asked the

Goa’s filtered water quality is ranked as second best in India, Minister for Public Works Department (PWD) Ramakrishna Dhavalikar told the State Legislative Assembly on Tuesday.