Panaji: Directing Goa government to submit the report of the earlier constituted Review Committee on private forest demarcation, the National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench, has sought to know the reasons for rejecting the report.
Former Forest Minister Vijai Sardesai had rejected the Review Committee report, submitted to government in June, claiming that it failed to hear the aggrieved parties.
Goa Foundation in an application filed before NGT informed about submission of the Review Committee report to the government on June 21, 2019 and that it was rejected by the then Forest Minister and a decision was taken to appoint one more Review Committee.
“We are of the view that it would be of relevance to go through the final report referred to by the Applicant if such a report does exist. It would also be necessary to consider the reasons for the rejection of the report submitted by the Review Committee,” the order passed by the division bench stated.
“We accordingly, direct the State of Goa to place before us the report of the Review Committee submitted on 21.06.2019 and specify the reason for rejecting the same by way of an affidavit,” the order added.
Government has to file its affidavit before next hearing scheduled on December 10.
