Panaji: Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane on Friday said that he has issued directions to his department to file First Information Reports against those violating Preservation of Trees Act in the state.
Rane said that there are lot of people taking permission from Deputy Conservator of Forest North and South Divisions under Protection of Tree Act for felling trees, citing some requirements.
“Once the permissions are taken, they go completely against the rules in the permission,” he said.
The minister said that directions have been issued to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest to file FIR against those violating the permissions. “The department of forest will come down heavily on such violators,” he said.
Rane, who holds the portfolio of Town and Country Planning Department (TCP), said that the action would be taken against those illegally involved in land filling.
He said that the FIR will be filed against the violators under TCP Act. “There are several cases of land filling brought to the notice of the government and all those are being investigated by the officers of the department,” Rane said.
The minister said that Bicholim MLA Chandrakant Shetye had recently filed complaint against illegal plotting of land at Mencurem village in his (Bicholim) constituency.
He said that the department will initiate action against the illegal plotting. “Nobody should venture into the business of illegal plotting,” he added.
