Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests meets in Goa
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests meets in Goa
The Department – related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests headed by its Chairman Shri Ashwani Kumar which is on a study visit to Bangalore and Goa from 4th to 6th February held extensive discussions in Goa with representatives of NGO’s/civil society organizations, experts and central and state Government representatives on “The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill,2015 and “Impact of mining on environment in particular and environmental issues of Goa’ in general.
The Committee heard views of leading NGO’s/civil societies on various provisions of the compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2015. Some NGOs/ Civil society members suggested that provision be made for incentives to persons who are displaced or relocated elsewhere from eco sensitive zone. It was suggested that Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds should be permitted to be used for acquiring lands in eco sensitive areas in order to overcome loss of forests and native species plants should be selected so that ecology of the area is maintained. Need for people’s participation was stressed. Suggestions were made regarding composition of authorities at central and state level. The NGOs and Civil society members also drew attention of the parliamentary committee to the deteriorating environmental conditions in Goa attributed to mining and tourism industries. They pointed to 17 categories of highly polluting industries and other industrial activities which are categorized as red, orange and green based on the process involved and pollution load generated with respect to effluent emission and hazardous wastes. Besides air pollution in Goa’s problems of solid waste management including bio-medical waste, sewerage pollution, noise pollution etc were pointed out. Further civil society members suggested improvement in sanitary and bio medical waste collection system and also effect of mining on the ecology and hydrology of the area. NGOs and civil society members informed the committee that the silt of red mud generated because of mining has entered into fields and rivers adjoining the mining areas, which severely affected agriculture and riverine eco system.
The committee also held discussions with state government of Goa and also with representatives from industries on the various aspects of environmental issues caused due to mining in Goa.
Besides chairman of the committee, other members of the committee namely Shri C.P.Narayanan, Shri Paul Manoj Pandian, Shri Bhupinder Singh, Shri Prabhatsinh Chauhan, Shri Ninong Ering, Dr K.Gopal, Shri Shivaji Patil, Shri Nagendra Kumar Pradhan, Shri Vikram Usendi, Smt M. Vasanthi and Shri Nana Patole were present.
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