State never favoured a "zero buffer zone" - R.K. Verma
Not all is over for Goa’s mining industry. Even as GoaGovernment races against time to straighten the state’s record in the face of aSupreme Court Order that threatens to close the mining industry for very long,there is another crucial issue that will get sorted simultaneously.
The Supreme Court while accepting the report of the CentralEmpowered Committee on buffer zones with modifications suggested by amicuscuriae Harish Salve has instructed Additional Solicitor General Gourab Banerjeeto file a response on behalf of the Union of India by October 21. The matter inWrit Petition No. 202 / 1995 comes up for hearing on November 2. What the ApexCourt has also asked the Centre is to include “any proposals or suggestionshave been received from the different state governments.” The State Governmentfinally has a chance to end the debate on buffer zones. But is it acting?
The Goan’s investigations reveal that the Government isstudying CEC’s proposal (reported first in The Goan on September 22). “The CECproposal is pretty progressive and we are treating it as a base document”confirms Rajnikant Verma, Principal Secretary Mines and Forest. Verma, thenodal authority in the state, who holds both portfolios that hold the key tothe state’s mining crisis. Verma also confirmed that the recommendations fromthe State Committee led by Chief Conservator of Forest Richard D’Souza that isdue to submit its’ reports. The tenure of the Committee submitting its reportends on October 15.
The Goa Government is submitting its’ recommendations beforethe October 21 deadline to the Centre including its’ own point of view. Whathowever is interesting is that the state is simultaneously filing its’ point ofview independent of the centre. Verma also revealed that Goa’s proposal isbased on the premise that the state has unique ecology and hence has to betreated exclusively. “We are sensitive of the fact that Goa has 51% forestcover and 21% wildlife but at the same time this is much beyond the nationalaverages. We are factoring in these concerns in our proposal” confirms Verma.
What however is a non-issue is the Congress rhetoric of zerobuffer zone that it had raised with the Centre. Citing recommendations of theearlier Rajiv Yaduvanshi Committee on Buffer Zones, Verma confirms that thestate never favoured a ‘zero buffer zone’. “We never said that there will be nobuffer zone so the concerns are misplaced” confirms the Mines and ForestSecretary.
The next week will be quite crucial as Goa Governmentreadies and will formally submit its proposal for buffer zones. What however isinteresting is the fact that it will be try and emphasise further realisticlimits post the CEC’s recommendations. It’s now or never!
