Affidavit by the state of Goa in the matter of news item titled "India lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover since 2000 global forest watch" appearing in the Indian Express dated April 13, 2024. As per the State of Forests Report of 2023, the total forest cover in Goa …
Residents of Sirsaim-Tivim have unanimously resolved to oppose mega housing projects in their village. At a largely attended Gram Sabha on Sunday, the villagers demanded the revocation of a construction licence issued to a mega housing project at Walkeshwar vaddo near Bodiem-Tivim. The panchayat had issued the licence for the …
The less-nurtured plantations with medicinal value will now get a fillip as the Goa Forest Development Corporation is venturing into a major project - conservation and commercial in nature - of medicinal plantations in the State. According to data procured by this paper, the project seeks to protect rare and …
Governor S C Jamir on Monday emphasized the need for a comprehensive forest policy for the State for long-term planning and management of state forests. Addressing the gathering after inaugurating the
The State cabinet today approved the Mid-Day meal scheme to the students of standard five to eight. Disclosing this at a press conference, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said that the scheme which was now catering only to the primary level and would now cover middle school (from fifth to eighth …
The Bombay High Court at Goa on Monday appointed National Enviornmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to conduct a survey to determine the consequences of mining activities on water resources and agriculture of Shirgao village in Bicholim taluka. While hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by villagers of Shirgao village, …
Residents from Shivsorem and Colomba in Rivona are gearing up to oppose an iron ore mining lease, with a public hearing slated for June 18 from 11 am at Rivona V K S S Society, Rivona. Residents have alleged that the mine owner started operating from the mine since September …
By Val & Tino On the occasion of the World Environment Day (WED), we moved around town for a survey to assess the degree of public awareness. In keeping with the day's spirit, we took the walking option, simultaneously ensuring that no traces of carbon in the footprints were left …
Goans who are up in arms against mega projects in the villages are using gram sabha (village council) to oppose such projects. But questions have been raised by politicians and some intellectuals too, whether the gram sabhas have the powers to stop mega projects. In the light of this, it …
The Gawda Kunbi Velip and Dhangar Federation of Colomba unit on Friday filed a complaint at the Quepem police against a mine operating at Gulkon Donger for releasing polluted water and mining silt into their agricultural fields. In the complaint, a copy of which has been forwarded to the Chief …
Documents on SEZs (special economic zones) reveal that altogether 19 companies had applied to the Goa government for setting up SEZs in the State. Of these, the Pratapsing Rane-headed coalition government had made recommendation to Board of Approvals, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, in 15 cases. These included two …
At long last, we have direct action from the government on the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) that neither the Goan people nor the Goa government want, but the Union Commerce Ministry seems to want to impose on the people of Goa. By cancelling in one stroke the land given to …
The South Goa Zilla Panchayat has resolved to ask the government not to allow mega projects in the State's countryside without taking into account the infrastructure. It was also resolved that all mega projects should be mandatorily placed before the gram sabha meetings before granting approval. Initiating the discussion on …
SEZ tale in Goa has been of favouritism, irregularities, procedural impropriety, and totally anti-Goa. Since it was first discussed in December 2004 during the BJP regime, SEZ story took a monsterous form in 2006. Pratapsing Rane was the chief minister and Luizinho Faleiro the Industries Minister. Much before SEZ Act …
If the avowed objective of the proposal to cap the Sonsodo garbage dumpyard with tarpaulin was to arrest seepage of rain water into the waste, tonnes of waste continues to be exposed to rains at the site till date. For, the Margao Civic body is still in the process of …
The memories of the Porvorim landslide last year have come back haunting as the mud from one of the benches has come down crashing posing a threat to the motorists. The landslide site on Mandovi bridge approach road at Porvorim was posing grave danger to the traffic even as possibility …
Goa's Movement Against SEZs has expressed shock over the statement made by the Secretary of the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Board of Approval for SEZs, Mr G K Pillai, who has accused the Government of Goa of not taking any steps for the last six months, to …
Forest officials arrested three persons and detained one Tata Mobile vehicle for allegedly involved in catching frogs at Gaonkarwado-Usgao on June 7 at about 12.30 am. According to reports, arrested ones include Thomas Sebestiao and Patrick Pacheco (both from Raia, Salcette) and Anand Chandwadkar from Bethora-Ponda and recovered 70 frogs …
Admitting that garbage was a major issue and was causing immense damage to the environment, Power and Environment Minister, Aleixo Sequeira said the issue could be solved with people's participation. Speaking at a debate titled
Intercontinental the Grand Goa Resort, Rajbagh Canacona recently celebrated the World Environment Day with various activities and programmes on its large property. Besides a beach cleaning drive, where the entire one kilometer stretch was cleaned by about 50 staff and the executives of the resort, a tree plantation drive was …
