Panaji, Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane said that the Goa government will finalize the factual report on special forest areas in the coastal state by May 30.
The report will be submitted to the National Green Tribunal, as the case regarding demarcation of these protected lands is still pending, Rane told reporters in Panaji on Saturday evening.
These special areas are lands owned by individuals but are treated as forests by the government.
“There should be proper evaluation of private forests. Many people have faced injustice due to errors in the private forest demarcation report,” Rani said.
He stressed that the Forest Department has been asked to prepare the final report to avoid any room for tampering in the future.
A committee comprising forest department officials has been formed and will submit its final report on private forests in the state by May 30, replacing the existing interim report, Rane said.
“I have asked them to announce in newspapers the land survey figures in the interim report for private forests and to hold hearings for people whose lands have been classified as private forests,” he said.
Rani asked the committee to examine the citizen’s documents, adhere to the procedures, and complete the report, pointing out that the issue of demarcating private forests has been going on for years.
The Minister dismissed concerns about additions to the special forest areas included in the final report.
“No new survey numbers will be added. Only those that have already been identified will be taken into consideration – whether continuing as a private forest or delisting,” he said.
He added that only the parts that are considered a private forest will remain, adding that forest department officials are responsible for this and the minister does not interfere in it.
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