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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2445 HIV cases in 2009-11: Parsekar
PANJIM: The number of HIV cases registered between 2009 and 2011 in Goa are reported to be 2445 according to statistics furnished by Health minister Laxmikant Parsekar while replying to queries from Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte, at the Goa Assembly’s monsoon session. In 2009, 959 HIV cases were registered, whereas in 2010 and 2011 there was a declining trend in HIV registered cases from 821 to 665 cases. As far as the number of Goan affected by HIV are concerned, the figure was pegged at 1939 between 2009 and 2011.
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Land acquisition for Cutbona jetty to lapse in 20 days
MARGAO: Just 20 days to go for the controversial land acquisition proceedings to finally lapse, land acquisition officials are in a quandary whether to go ahead or allow the acquisition of land admeasuring 30,000 sqare meters for expansion of the Cutbona fishing jetty to lapse. Following outcry by Velim villagers over the acquisition of land for a fish meal plant cum jetty expansion, the government had on September 1, 2011 ordered to keep the land acquisition proceedings in abeyance.
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Non-availability of degraded land baffles Forest Dept
PANJIM: Even as forest department is bracing up to clear a backlog of afforesting 2300 hectares of degraded land pending since 2004 under Compensatory Afforestration Fund Management Authority (CAMPA), the non availability of degraded land has created impediment for the officials. Forest department officials said that the state has good forest cover making it difficult to get the degraded woods, which are essential for afforestration under CAMPA. Union government’s ambitious scheme seems to have been jinxed right from its announcement in the state. The Centre had held back the amount since 2004 till 2009-10 due the petition pending in the Supreme Court.
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Govt will compensate for land acquisition based on Central Act, says Francis
PANJIM: Revenue Minister, Francis D’Souza Thursday assured Goa Legislative Assembly Thursday that the Government would pay compensation for land acquisition based on the Central Act and drop land acquisitions which they feel are not in public interest. “There will be no compromise on paying compensation. What has to be given will be given,” D’Souza stated while replying to a supplementary question posed by Opposition Leader Pratapsing Rane during Question Hour .
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Vijai accuses CM of U-turn on mining
PANJIM: Independent legislator Vijai Sardesai on Thursday accused Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar of soft peddling the issues related to the mining industry in the state, which have gained gigantic proportion at the cost of the environment. Speaking on the motion of thanks to Governor’s address moved by Aldona MLA Glen Ticlo, Sardesai said that ‘there is wholesale U-turn by the State Government on the issue of mining.’
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Barge owners in dire straits after clampdown on illegal mining: GBOA
VASCO: Goa Barge Owners Association President Atul Jadav stated that Goa Barge owners are in deep financial crisis, following a clamp down on illegal mining and a ban on export of dumps. Addressing a press conference in Vasco, Jadav said the quantum of exports dropped from 54.45 million tonnes in 2010-11 to 42.0 million tonnes in 2011-12. “Number of trips by individual barges, owned by private entrepreneurs, fell from 123 on an average during 2010-11 to about 60 trips during 2011-12. In order to break even, a barge should make at least 100 trips a month,” said Jadav.
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Draft mining policy to be tabled in assembly session: CM
PANJIM: Government will table the draft mining policy during the forthcoming Goa Legislative Assembly’s monsoon session which commences Thursday, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar disclosed. Briefing Herald, Parrikar said that the process of formulating the draft policy is almost complete by eliciting inputs from various departments linked with the mining industry. “The inputs will be drafted as a policy and will be tabled on the floor of the House,” Parrikar informed. He elaborated that each department which is concerned with the mining industry has been asked to give their inputs, which would be included in the draft document.
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30 applications for diversion of forest land for mining kept on hold
PANJIM: Over 30 applications for diversion of forest land for mining have been received by the Forest Department since 2011, which have been kept on hold, in the absence of State Forest Policy 2011. Former Forest Minister, Filipe Neri Rodrigues had, announced that no fresh applications for diversion of forest lands for mining would be considered by his department till a new Forest Policy for the state is framed.
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Vision Document for afforestation finalised
PANJIM: A ‘Vision Document’ detailing spending of money and priorities under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management Authority (CAMPA), for next ten years, has been finalized by state government, which will decide the way forward for this centrally funded project. The document prepared by the Centre for Environment Education (CEE), a body of environmental experts, was placed before Steering Committee on CAMPA headed by Chief Secretary Sanjay Srivastava, which met recently.
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Damaged pipeline causes water contamination in Panjim
PANJIM: A minor puncture in the water distribution line, along 18 June road, has caused water contamination for the second time in Panjim city. Public Works Department (PWD) staff swung into action immediately on Monday morning to plug the damaged pipeline through which dirty water had begun flowing through the distribution lines. According to Superintending Engineer K Shrikant, the water line had been damaged by some agencies while digging the road for underground utility services.