From: b sabha <[email protected]>
http://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/The-truth-is-that-this-is-a-planned-murder-of-our-coconut-trees/97828.html?utm_source=Email%2Bnewsletter&utm_medium=email [http://www.heraldgoa.in/images/fb-post1.jpg]<http://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/The-truth-is-that-this-is-a-planned-murder-of-our-coconut-trees/97828.html?utm_source=Email%2Bnewsletter&utm_medium=email> The truth is that this is a planned murder of our coconut trees<http://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/The-truth-is-that-this-is-a-planned-murder-of-our-coconut-trees/97828.html?utm_source=Email%2Bnewsletter&utm_medium=email> www.heraldgoa.in Herald gives a point by point rebuttal to Environment Minister Rajendra Arlekar’s defence of the murderous assault on Goa’s most precious treasure – the coconut tree Herald gives a point by point rebuttal to Environment Minister Rajendra Arlekar’s defence of the murderous assault on Goa’s most precious treasure – the coconut tree By Team Herald | 14 Jan, 2016, 06:51AM IST A- A+ <http://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/The-truth-is-that-this-is-a-planned-murder-of-our-coconut-trees/97828.html?utm_source=Email%2Bnewsletter&utm_medium=email#>2 PANJIM Rajendra Arlekar: We will take an initiative to bring a new Coconut Protection Act. Herald: Why does Rajendra Arlekar feel that there is a need for a Coconut Protection Act? Since the coconut tree is never in danger from Goans and those who love Goa, the protection actually needed from mega project and the real estate lobby from outside. But the opposite has happened. The Goa Daman & Diu Tree Preservation Act 1984, amended in 2008 gives ample protection. Arlekar has taken away the protection and now talks of another Act to give protection with no deadline and roadmap. This is an organised murder of the coconut tree. Arlekar: I am not concerned whether coconut is a tree or palm or grass, I am more concerned about the problems faced by the coconut growers, who have to approach the forest department for anything to do with the coconut tree. Herald: There has never been a strong demand raised by coconut growers about problems with the forest department. The problems have been faced by big landlords who have sold tenanted land illegally by duping tenants, for hotels, golf course and factories and then finding that inspite of all other clearances, the project proponents have to wait for forest clearance to fell trees, including coconut trees and that too not more than 2 hectares. Do we need any bigger proof of who the real beneficiary of the government decision is once you read this remark by Mr Vivek Jain, of Vani Agro the company, which has been allowed to set up an alcohol and brewery plant in the village of Amdai–Uguem, in Sanguem? When Herald first exposed the story, Mr Jain said, “The Goa government in its new notification has declassified, the Coconut Tree as a tree which means Vani Agro Farms does not need forest clearance to fell or cut the 470-odd coconut trees on that land at Amdai, Sanguem.” Arlekar: Once the land use is changed from agriculture to residential or commercial, the converted land is governed by the Town and Country Planning Act and there are enough provisions to take care of illegal cutting of trees in the TCP act. Herald: It’s not easy to fool all the people all the time. Read the comment of Vivek Jain above. Moreover doesn’t Arlekar know about the Investment Promotion Board Act? Under this Act when any area is identified as an Investment Promotion Area neither the TCP Act or any other Act which offers rights and protection of the land from reckless conversion and misuse, is applicable. This is spelt out in black and white. Section 7(3) of the IPB Act states: ‘Upon demarcation and notification of any area under sub-section (2), the provisions of the Goa Municipalities Act, 1968 (Act 16 of 1968), the 8 City of Panaji Corporation Act, 2002 (Goa Act 1 of 2003), the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 (Goa Act 14 of 1994), the Goa Land Revenue Code, 1968 (Act 9 of 1969), the Goa (Regulation of Land Development and Building Construction) Act, 2008 (Goa Act 6 of 2008), the Goa Town and Country Planning Act, 1974 (Act 21 of 1975) and the rules, regulation framed there under, the Regional Plan, the Outline Development Plan, Land Use Map and the provisions of other local Acts, as the case may be, SHALL CEASE TO APPLY to the notified areas referred to in sub-section (2). This is the extent to which the murder of coconut trees has been planned Arlekar: Merely amending the Preservation of Trees Act cannot give blanket permission to cut coconut trees in the commercial zone, thus the allegation is baseless. Herald: These aren’t allegations. These are facts. Why is the Minister misleading the State? The coconut tree has been taken out of the Preservation of Trees Act. And the IPB will be increasingly misused to declare areas as Investment Promotion areas, allowing those setting up industries or projects there to bypass crucial acts including the Town and Country Planning Act and fell coconut trees at random. Let’s cut the clutter and the jargon, and see this killing of the coconut tree for what it is. =========== http://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/Winter-Assembly-Session/After-coconut-trees-govt-shifts-focus-to-monkeys/97808.html?utm_source=Email%2Bnewsletter&utm_medium=email After coconut trees, govt shifts focus to monkeys Process on to declare monkeys as ‘vermin’ says CM; Rising conflict between humans and wild animals forces govt hand, Parsekar confirms; Monkey fever can be controlled via vaccinations says Dy CM By team herald | 14 Jan, 2016, 05:46AM IST A- A+ <http://www.heraldgoa.in/Goa/Winter-Assembly-Session/After-coconut-trees-govt-shifts-focus-to-monkeys/97808.html?utm_source=Email%2Bnewsletter&utm_medium=email#> PANJIM: Following worries raised by public and senior legislative members about increasing man-animals conflict causing damage to crops and even to human life, the State Government on Wednesday told the Legislative Assembly that a process has been initiated to declare certain wild animals, including the monkey as ‘vermin’. Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar told the House that the government has been receiving several memorandums from sections of the society on the rising nuisance caused by monkeys, wild boars etc. “The time has come when we need to declare some animals as vermin. It is true that a few wild animals have become nuisance,” he said. “Following directives from the central government, we have already initiated steps to declare certain wild animals as vermin. This process will be completed soon,” the Chief Minister added. The announcement came during a calling attention motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition, Pratapsingh Rane who highlighted the fear in the minds of the public due to increasing cases of Kyasanur Forest Disease (Monkey fever). Pointing to the fact that in the recent past monkeys have become major nuisances, the MLA sought to know the action the government has taken in order to prevent the disease from spreading. “I am an animal lover but when any animal becomes a nuisance, it’s time to get rid of it before it kills humans,” he said. Rane said that in the interior villages of Sattari, Bicholim and Canacona, there has been a rise in man-animal conflict with crops, vegetation and other human properties being damaged. “These animals are vermin,” he said. Earlier, replying on the Monkey Fever issue, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Health, Francis D’Souza said that though the number of cases is detected, the villagers are averse to getting themselves vaccinated to protect themselves from the disease. “We have begun a vaccination drive in the villages after some patients with monkey fever were detected. But we have found that people are not ready to take the vaccination. Even if they take it for the first time, they don’t come for the follow up. This issue can be solved with vaccinations,” he informed the House. The monkey fever disease has been traced amongst the villagers of Mauxi, Zarmen and Copordem in Sattari taluka. Since January last year, a total of 42 cases have been detected with one death. “Due to strengthened surveillance, the detection could show a rising trend,” the Minister said. D’Souza said the All India Institute of Virology has issued certain guidelines which are circulated to the villagers. The minister clarified the disease is not spread from one human to another.
