37,979 trees to be axed for Mollem projects, says Goa CM Pramod Sawant

PORVORIM: Chief minister Pramod Sawant in a written reply to a question by leader of opposition Digambar Kamat said that altogether 37,979 trees will be axed for the construction of the three Centre-sponsored linear projects in Mollem National Park and Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary.
While 20,758 trees have been enumerated and likely to be felled for the South Western Railways’ track doubling project, 12,097 have been marked for felling for the four-laning of Panaji-Belagavi national highway. Sawant said that 5,124 trees have been enumerated for the Tanmar power transmission project, out of which only 1,000 from within the wildlife area will be cut “as per the written assurance given by the user agency.”
Sawant said in his reply that the ministry of environment, forests and climate change has granted Stage I (in-principle) approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for diversion of 136.49 ha of forest land of Mollem National Park and Bhagwan Mahavir wildlife sanctuary for SWR’s track doubling project. However, no approval has been granted under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for laying of 400 Kv transmission line and for four-laning of national highway in Mollem National Park and Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, the reply states.