Govt assures a new CZMP with people’s views
Plan to be drafted by Environment Department in consultation with CZMA, GSPCB, scientists PORVORIM: In a major victory to the people, the State government on Tuesday announced it woud draft a fresh
Herald (Panjim)
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Sample tests reveal wells near Sonsodo site polluted
MARGAO: Sample testing of well waters in the vicinity of the Sonsodo waste dumping site by the Goa State Pollution Control Board has revealed high levels of coliform. Well water sample of Vishal Gude, a resident of Amrutnagar-Sonsodo put the total coliform to 490 as against the permissible limit of 10. Similarly, the feacal coliform was around 170 when it ought to have been nil.
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Velim Sarpanch says he backs locals to scrap land acquisition process
MARGAO: Newly-elected Velim Sarpanch Melvyn Sanches on Monday said he along with the Panchayat body are fully supporting the demand of the villagers for scrapping of the land acquisition process for the expansion of the Cutbona fishing jetty. Melvyn was elected unopposed as Velim sarpanch on Monday after his candidature was proposed by Cruz Fernandes and seconded by Assis Pinto.
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‘Tiger area’ runs into trouble
VALPOI: In a move that could spark off a major row, the Mauxi and Keri panchayats in Sattari Taluka have opposed the Government’s proposal to include a part of forest area in Sattari taluka as ‘tiger reserve area’. Addressing a press conference at Valpoi on Thursday, Sarpanchas Datta Gawas (Mauxi) and Jivba Rane (Keri) have objected to allot a part of forest area in Sattari as ‘tiger reserve area’, unless the Government spells out its plan for the rehabilitation and compensation to affected farmers.
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Alina warns against illegal felling of trees
VASCO: Environment Minister Alina Saldanha has warned that those involved in illegal felling of trees are severely penalised to serve as a deterrent to others. At a tree plantation drive at Fishery Survey of India, Mormugao, on Thursday, Saldanha was informed that culprits generally go scot-free with a paltry fine for illegal felling of trees. She assured to bring it to the notice of the forest department and ensure that those involved in illegal felling of trees are fined heavily to serve as a deterrent to others.
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Stop using plastic bags or pay fine of Rs 5,000, Ponda traders warned
Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) has warned traders to refrain from using plastic bags, failing which they could attract a fine of upto Rs 5,000. It may be recalled Chief Officer Pradip Naik had issued orders banning plastic bags in Ponda municipality from August 16. However, the ban was postponed for a few days after PMC councillors felt that traders should be given sufficient time before implementing the ban. Since August 20, PMC started conducting surprise checks and traders found using plastic carry bags were fined Rs 100. So far, over Rs 3,000 has been collected through fines.
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Waste treatment: Fomento Green asks MMC to pay first installment
MARGAO: Fomento Green has finally asked the Margao Municipal Council to pay the first installment amounting to Rs 1.30 crore, even as the company is bracing up to conduct trial runs of waste treatment plant at Sonsodo by month end. The company has dashed off a letter reminding the Civic body to make the payments, which was supposed to be made at the time of signing of the Concession agreement.
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Moratorium on mining to be reviewed on Dec 31
PANJIM: In what can be seen as good news for the mine owners in the state, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) has declared that the moratorium on renewal and granting of new mining leases in Goa would be reviewed on December 31, 2012. Union Minister for MoEF, Jayanthi Natarajan in a written reply during the ongoing parliament session, has said that for the purpose of ensuring protection of biodiversity of Western Ghats, there are some restrictions for setting up of industries in certain ecologically significant areas of the region up to December 31, 2012, including mining projects in Goa.
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Cutbona boat owners oppose land acquisition for jetty expansion
MARGAO: In a development that will give further boost to the Velim anti-land Acquisition movement, boat owners from Cutbona ward on Sunday came out strongly against the government’s move to acquire 30,000 square meters of land for the fishing jetty expansion. At a meeting held at Carxetta-Velim on Sunday evening, all the eight boat owners owning around 15 fishing vessels told the ward people that they are against the government’s plans to expand the jetty by acquiring additional land.
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House panel to study issue of CRZ notices to traditional dwellers
PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar led House Committee, constituted to look into the issues pertaining to the traditional inhabitants, who were served demolition notices by local panchayats as per Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification 2011, will be having its first seating next week. Environment Minister Alina Saldanha said that the committee will identify the number of houses under CRZ and also study the issue of the dwellings which had received demolition notices for being in the zone.
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Velim locals oppose move to acquire land for Cutbona jetty expansion
MARGAO: Velim roared on Wednesday as villagers came out strongly against the government’s decision to go ahead with the land acquisition process to acquire 30,000 square metres of land for the Cutbona jetty expansion. Bowing to the demands and sentiments of the villagers, members of the Velim Panchayat have agreed to resign after a certain time-frame, while Velim MLA Benjamin D’Silva has assured to support the villagers cause and move the government to get the land acquisition process scrapped.