Forest Minister Vijai Sardesai on Sunday said that plans were underway to transfer  30,000 sqm land near the Sonsoddo garbage plant to the forest department to setup an urban forest called ‘Nagarvan’.
On Saturday, residents of Raia during a special gram sabha raised alarm after news spread that the land near the Sonsoddo dump was being used to build another garbage plant. Curtorim MLA who informed the minister of the objections said he would support the move to have an urban forest setup.
“During yesterday’s gram sabha, locals objected to an alleged garbage plant coming up there. But I cleared the doubt as it being forest trail there will not be another garbage plant. It is important that we do something good for society and for posterity. Whatever we do for posterity and environment should be taken in good sport,” said Curtorim MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco.
Further informing of the plans, Sardesai said, “There is no question of a garbage plant coming there. We are planning to have a nagarvan or urban forest. The land had been included in phase two of Sonsoddo but because there is strong objection, we wanted to turn it into an urban forest. We have asked the MMC (Margao Municipal Council) during its next meeting to handover the land to the forest department so the work can begin,” said Sardesai.
He also added that matters of local concern were to be dealt with transparency and not by hiding the situation. He said the Nagarvan plans would be done in consultation with the locals and the public. The plan, the minister added, would be to convert the land by planting medicinal plants and trees.