Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: The Central government has granted one-time relief by permitting construction of homestead/ residential houses up to 250 sq m by the owners of the private area (deemed forest) in Goa.
The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) has granted permission by imposing similar conditions as specified in the guidelines issued for Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA).
The relaxation is granted following a request from the Chief Minister, Dr Pramod Sawant, who in a letter sent to the Minister MoEF&CC had informed that 46 sq. km. has been identified as private forests in the state of Goa.
Permission for residential purposes on forest land is not permitted under the provisions of FCA 1980. However, In Uttarakhand, the homestead owners have been allowed to obtain permission for the construction of residential houses over 250 sq. m.
As per conditions, the construction activity for residential purposes in private forest shall be allowed only for domestic purposes and shall not be extended to any institutional buildings or commercial development.
The construction activities shall be restricted to a maximum of 250 square meters of built-up area in each case. The construction of residential buildings in the private forest is permitted in MDDA areas and other parts of Uttarakhand State only in order to alleviate the hardship of homestead owners for constructing/completing their bonafide residential buildings.
