02 November,2020 07:24 PM IST | Goa | IANS
Bombay High Court
The Bombay High Court bench in Goa on Monday issued notice to the Goa government in connection with an electricity sub- station proposed in a protected forest reserve in South Goa, while hearing a public interest litigation filed by a green NGO.
The notice was issued by Justices Mahesh Sonak and M.S. Jawalkar, in connection with the petition filed by Goa Foundation, which has prayed for setting aside government clearances granted to the High Tension Line (HTL) power project and building of a sub-station in South Goa's Dharbandora area, which requires the felling of 2,670 trees in a protected forest area, located in and around Mollem village.
The PIL has alleged that heavy earthmoving machinery had been moved to the site and that several workers were involved in clearing of the area and removal of mud, even as the counsel for the power firm Goa-Tanmar Transmission Project said that "there is no development or construction work being carried out" at the site.
Nearly 50,000 trees located in the Western Ghats region of Goa are slotted for felling to make way for multiple central government projects, which include expansion of railway lines and highways and drawing of a new high tension power line, spread across protected forests in and around Mollem village, located in the Western Ghats region.
ALSO READ
Bombay High Court mandates linking with local bodies for buyer protection
BMW hit - and - run: HC refuses to release accused on illegal arrest plea
Badlapur encounter: High court flays police for not reconstructing crime scene
Atrocities case: IRS officer Sameer Wankhede moves HC seeking independent probe
Shivaji Maharaj statue collapse: Court grants bail to consultant Chetan Patil
The projects have already been cleared by the National Wildlife Board in April this year.
The electricity project is aimed at drawing 400 KVA power lines from Karnataka and construction of a sub-station, which will connect the Southern and Western power grids and is expected to enhance power quality in Goa.
The Opposition as well as civil society groups and tourism stakeholders bodies have expressed apprehension that the projects were being pushed at an "express pace" to facilitate movement of coal imported through the Mormugao Port Trust facility in Goa to steel mills in Karnataka's Bellary district and nearby areas.
Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.
Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
