From Daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, Mar 23: The Goa Civic and Consumer Action Network (GOACAN) held a protest action at the office of the Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) in Panjim today in support of the demands raised by the Socorro Civic and Consumer Forum with regards to quarrying activities being undertaken in the Private Forests as well as the proposed IT Park in Private Forests of Socorro Village.

The action held on the occasion of World Forestry Day also highlighted the need for a people's centered plan of action by the Forest Department to protect all forests in Goa.

It may be recalled that the Socorro Civic and Consumer Forum had addressed a complaint to the CCF on 24th January and with a follow up reminder on 8th February highlighting the mining activities to extract laterite rubble from private forest in Socorro Village in total violation of the Supreme Court guidelines. However, besides initial visits by Forest Department officials to stop the mining activities, no permanent solution was forthcoming. Moreover, none of the letters written by Socorro Forum were acknowledged or replied to by the CCF.

The Consumer Forum had also expressed its apprehension that private forest areas identified by the Sawant and Karapukar committees were sought to be included for acquision for the proposed IT Park in Socorro and Salvador-do-Mundo Villages.

The GOACAN delegation consisting of Forum volunteers Floriano Fernandes (Merces), Lorna B-Fernandes(Cuncolim), Ralph Noronha (Socorro), Matilda Rodrigues(Uccasaim), Caesar Varella (St. Estevam), Valentine Coelho, Convenor of Socorro Consumer Forum and Roland Martins Co-ordinator GOACAN called on Mr. A.K. Wahal, Chief Conservator and discussed the issues at length.

With regards to the mining lease granted in the Private Forest land, Wahal stated that his department was siezed of the matter and has written to the Department of Mines for immediate cancellation of the lease and assured the delegation that if the mining activities persits, they will not hesitate to take police action in the matter. He acknowledged a lapse on the side of the Department for not repling to the Socorro Forums correspondence and assured of steps to avoid such occurances.

With regards to the proposed IT park, Mr. Wahal categorically stated that under no circumstances such activity will be permitted in Private Forest land. He further stated that he would issue clear cut clarification in the matter to the Consumer Forum in view of the fact that the Gram Sabha of the Village Panchayat of Socorro has had mixed opinions on the proposed IT Park project.

The GOACAN delegation impressed upon Mr. Wahal that the Forest Department needs to evolve a people's centered action plan to protect the Forests of Goa due to the increased encroachments and deforestation by vested economic interests.

The delegation also impressed upon the CCF the need to replace the tree's cut for construction of buildings in the various villages by working out a scheme for people's participation to restore the tree cover by involving the Panchayat Gram Sabhas so as to tackle the impact of urbanisation of villages of Goa.

Meanwhile, the Socorro Civic and Consumer Forum has submitted a detailed memorandum to the Managing Director of the Infotech Corporation of Goa Limited, Porvorim on the proposed IT Park at Socorro Village as well as a memo to Mr. J.B. Bhingui, Director, Directorate of Mines on the problems created by granting of mining lease on Private Forest land in Socorro.