Goemkarponn Desk
PANAJI: Environmentalists have expressed strong reactions to the Goa Forest Department notifying 17.2228 hectares of land at Sangod, Dharbandora, as reserved forest for compensatory afforestation due to the diversion of 78.297 hectares of land for the construction of the Tamnar transmission line.
This decision has been met with criticism, given the recent setbacks the Tamnar project faced from the Center and Karnataka’s denial of clearance within its jurisdiction.
The environmentalists had hoped that the Goa government would be more circumspect, but they said that the government appears set on moving forward with the project in spite of protests from activists and panchayat members, as well as the Supreme Court’s rulings against the company.
According to the notification, 1.72 lakh sq mtr of land, including Survey Nos. 21/1, 22/1, and 24/1-A in Sangod village, Dharbandora taluka, has been designated as reserved forest. This will be used for compensatory afforestation instead of diverting 78.297 ha of land for the construction of the 400 KV D/C Xeldem to Mapusa Transmission Line and the 220 KV HTLS D/C Transmission Line. The notification is in favor of M/s Goa Tamnar Transmission Project Ltd.
The Karnataka government has correctly refused clearance within its jurisdiction, however we are unable to see the reasoning behind this decision. The creator of Goencho Ekvott (GE), Orville Dourado Rodrigues, stated, “We hope better sense prevails.”
The Goa government appears to be moving forward with the Tamnar Transmission Line project within its territorial jurisdiction, despite the fact that activists led by the Amchem Mollem Campaign, Goa Foundation, GE, Chicalim Youth Farmers Club, and other NGOs, along with some panchayat members, have been vocally opposing the project.
Karnataka’s decision is crucial for the project’s successful implementation; otherwise, it will be a wasteful expenditure of public funds.
“The notification of 17 ha of land comprising 3 survey numbers of Sangod has been done in view of the pending contempt petition filed by the Goa Foundation against GTTPL which will come up for hearing on 15.5.2024. Of the three survey numbers, 21/1 is the largest, covering over 10 ha.
The entire plot consisting of 2670 trees was allowed to be clear-felled for a sub-station proposed as part of the Tamnar 400 kV High Tension Line project bringing power from Karnataka to Goa. At the present, Goa has a 400 kv HTL from Kolhapur in Maharashtra,” said Claude Alvares, Director of Goa Foundation.
“The Forest Department in the State of Goa has consistently granted petitions to destroy trees and other greenery. Sangod granted Tamnar’s request to destroy 2,670 trees that the company had filed under the Goa Preservation of Trees Act, 1984, saving Tamnar from having to file an application under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
The Forest Department is obviously in the wrong direction. It is a significant question how to bring it back to look after and protect Goa’s woods. Alvares regretted that the department had not always been like this.
“A good way to begin afresh is to ensure that Tamnar will not be allowed to commission its lines till the department is satisfied that the reforestation of 78 ha has been initiated and successfully achieved. aAt the moment, most reforestation projects of Tamnar in Goa have miserably failed. The Goa Foundation is submitting a report to the Supreme Court in this connection,” Alvares concluded.
