FOREST DEPARTMENT SHOWS GUTS, ACTS AGAINST HIGHLY INFLUENTIAL ILLEGAL MINERS

PANJIM: Forest department officials have finally shown guts to act against the “highly placed persons” involved in illegal mining by seizing heavy machinery used to carry out excavation in the Netravali wildlife sanctuary, belonging to the kin of a heavyweight Congress politician from South Goa.

According to the information available from highly placed sources in the state administration, the machinery that was used for excavating was seized by the team of forest officials earlier this week and the seizure report was submitted to the competent court as provided in Forest and Wildlife Protection Acts.

The sources in the state administration also said that following the seizure of the machinery, there was immense pressure on the forest department officials to release the machinery but the forest officials withstood the pressure and took action against illegal mining activity.

The sources in the government further said the seized machinery could only be released by the court and state officials have no jurisdiction over the case now. The forest department officials acted discreetly and fast to ensure that they complete the formalities of seizure before any pressure was brought on them and filed the report before the court.

The forest department has been accused of inaction against illegal mining and this perhaps is the first instance in the recent past wherein the department has acted against those involved in illegal mining in its area.