As the withdrawal of controversial amendment to the Goa Preservation of Trees Act- that declassified coconut as ‘tree’ being the priority of the BJP-led coalition government in its soon to be drafted Common Minimum Programme (CMP) – the allies Goa Forward party (GFP) wants Government to declare Coconut Tree as ‘State Tree’.
The first meeting to chalk out CMP of the coalition government comprising of BJP, MGP, GFP and Independents is slated to be held on April 17. The meeting to be chaired by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar will spell out government police decisions for next five years.
GFP leader and Minister for Town and Country Planning (TCP) Vijay Sardessai- who had spearheaded movement against declassification of coconut tree- want Government to withdraw the contentious amendment, introduced by then Laxmikant Parsekar led government.
“The party will also take up the issue of rescinding the legislation which had declassified Coconut as a tree. We have already got assurance from Chief Minister,” Sardessai said.
“We want Coconut trees to be saved. For that we want Coconut trees to be declared as State tree,” the Minister added.
Amidst the strong resentment and uproar by the then opposition members like Sardessai, Rohan Khaunte (now cabinet Minister) and Congress, the former BJP-MGP led government passed the amendment to the Act deleting the coconut tree from the preview of ‘tree’. It however, hiked the fees for tree feeling or compounding offences from existing Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000.
A massive rally ‘Maad Yatra’, opposing the declassification was also held in the then Chief Minister’s Mandrem constituency by the oppositions.
Withdrawal of yet another controversial amendment to the Goa Agriculture Tenancy Act, thereby sending the tenancy redressed cases back to Mamletdar from the district court- is also on the cards of CMP. The same has been announced by the Goa Governor Mridula Sinha in her opening remark on the Floor of the House, last month.
In yet another issue, GFP has decided to take up the issue about illogical permissions being given by state government’s Investment Promotion Board (IPB) “We want IPB to be tightened giving not only impetus to environment but also ensuring that employment goes to sons of the soil,” Sardesai said adding that Government will have to bring in legislation to ensure that 80 per cent of employment is given to locals.
During the meeting GFP will also raise the issue of subsidizing Rice, Fish and Local Bread, which was part of party’s election manifesto.
Team TNV
