Will put final report on private forests in public domain by Dec, says minister

Porvorim: Minister for forests Vishwajit Rane assured the assembly that the final report on private forests will be ready and put in the public domain by Dec. Rane said that the interim report submitted to the National Green Tribunal has created a bit of confusion. This will be resolved by a verification drive before the final report is notified.

“In my tenure, I have not removed a single private forest. Before Dec, the report on private forests will be finalised. We will give this issue finality as a lot of time has already lapsed. Regarding the issues with the private forests, I will ask the TCP and the forest department to go and verify the situation,” said Rane.

The minister was speaking during the discussion for grants for the departments of town and country planning, municipal administration, women and child development, and forests.

Rane said that the forest department succeeded in bringing down the number of forest fires in the summer to just 11 this year, as against 96 in the previous year.

He also said that a comprehensive revamp for the Bondla zoo is required. He also announced that Pomburpa hill will be notified as a no-development zone.

He also said that the forest department is vigilant about illegal tree cutting but requires additional powers for enforcement and action.


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