TCP, forest dept flying squads to be integrated: Rane

PANAJI: In a bid to crack down on environmental violations, flying squads of the town & country planning (TCP) and forest departments will be integrated, said minister Vishwajit Rane, who holds both portfolios. Rane said that the joint team will help monitor all aspects of hill-cutting, tree-cutting, tree-felling and other environmental violations in Goa.
Rane also said that rules and norms related to hill-cutting and tree-felling will be strengthened so that violations can be curbed.
“We have taken a decision to integrate the squad officials of TCP and the forest department to monitor all aspects of hill-cutting, tree cutting, tree-felling,” said Rane. “TCP Act violations will be thoroughly investigated.”
Rane said that reports of any kind of violation will be submitted by the squads to the chief town planner and the chief conservator of forests. The minister also appealed to the people to notify the department of any violations by submitting photographic evidence.
Rane said that a dedicated email address will be created for people to report violations.
“Through these squads, we will have a proper mechanism in place to monitor any type of violation of the Acts. Many notifications have been issued in the past; we will further strengthen these to ensure that people do not get away with violating the rules,” said Rane.
Rane, who drew a lot of flak in April for rejecting demands for notifying a tiger reserve in Goa, said that he has decided to take a hard stand against violations in order to “protect the state and preserve its uniqueness”.
The minister said that he wants to prevent large-scale land-filling and hill-cutting in the state. “I reiterate my stand that any offence or violation of the Act will result in severe consequences. The department will only allow activities that are permitted by law. People should not take the department for granted; we will follow the law and maintain complete transparency in both departments,” he said.