Vagheri hill clearing work resumes | Goa News
Keri: After a brief halt, work to clear private forest plots on Vagheri hill has resumed. The activity threatens the stability and ecology of the hill, which is part of the Western Ghats of Goa.
Work to clear the forest area to make way for an ecotourism project began before January 2022, taking advantage of travel restrictions linked to the pandemic. However, following a report by TOI, the Wildlife Division of the Goa Forestry Department has banned entry to Vagheri Hill by setting up a checkpoint. This had led to the work being stopped.
Environmental activist Ramesh Gauns, however, said tree felling in Vagheri had resumed. “Clearing of forested areas is currently underway to create roads for the proposed so-called ecotourism project, without obtaining any of the required permissions from the relevant authorities,” Gauns said.
In 1997, the Sawant committee had identified the forest on Vagheri hill as a private forest due to its dense canopy. This area is also part of the eco-sensitive area of Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
Gauns, who obtained documents under RTI regarding the project, said: “The five co-owners of the property had submitted requests for tax assessment under unauthorized structures for which the sarpanch of the Querim village panchayat gave consent on November 13, 2021.”
According to the information provided by the five candidates, they currently have wooden houses made up of integrated biodigesters for the disposal of all waste. The houses exist since 2007-2010.
Currently, within undivided ownership, the Sattari Deputy Registrar’s office has been processing bills of sale on behalf of seven people, six of whom are non-Goan.
Environmentalists have expressed fears that if forest clearing works continue, it will lead to increased siltation and sediment load in monsoon streams in the villages of Pali, Zarme and inland. reservoir of the Anjunem dam.
Work to clear the forest area to make way for an ecotourism project began before January 2022, taking advantage of travel restrictions linked to the pandemic. However, following a report by TOI, the Wildlife Division of the Goa Forestry Department has banned entry to Vagheri Hill by setting up a checkpoint. This had led to the work being stopped.
Environmental activist Ramesh Gauns, however, said tree felling in Vagheri had resumed. “Clearing of forested areas is currently underway to create roads for the proposed so-called ecotourism project, without obtaining any of the required permissions from the relevant authorities,” Gauns said.
In 1997, the Sawant committee had identified the forest on Vagheri hill as a private forest due to its dense canopy. This area is also part of the eco-sensitive area of Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
Gauns, who obtained documents under RTI regarding the project, said: “The five co-owners of the property had submitted requests for tax assessment under unauthorized structures for which the sarpanch of the Querim village panchayat gave consent on November 13, 2021.”
According to the information provided by the five candidates, they currently have wooden houses made up of integrated biodigesters for the disposal of all waste. The houses exist since 2007-2010.
Currently, within undivided ownership, the Sattari Deputy Registrar’s office has been processing bills of sale on behalf of seven people, six of whom are non-Goan.
Environmentalists have expressed fears that if forest clearing works continue, it will lead to increased siltation and sediment load in monsoon streams in the villages of Pali, Zarme and inland. reservoir of the Anjunem dam.