Parrikar for scientific study on the Western Ghats

PANAJI: Chief minister Manohar Parrikar said that he will request the ministry of environment and forest (MoEF) to conduct a scientific study before the K Kasturirangan report is impl mented.

Goa government had expressed its strong reservation against the K Kasturirangan panel, stating that the report was not authentic and it did not reflect the ground realities of the Western Ghats located within the state.

During the run up to Lok Sabha polls, Parrikar had said that the Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats would be reviewed by the BJP, if it comes to power at the Centre.

Minister for state with independent charge for environment and forest Prakash Javdekar is schduled to visit the state in June. "If we go by the Kasturiranan report, then nearly 50% of the total land in Goa will be deprived of any development," Parrikar said.

Parrikar will leave for Delhi on June 3 to meet Union home minister Rajnath Singh, Javdekar and other ministers to discuss various issues pertaining to the state. Parrikar has identified 15 various issues which need to be discussed with Union ministers but, only a couple of these would be taken up during his first visit to capital.

"I will take up the issue of Kasturirangan report, mining, buffer zone, and filling of vacancies of state IAS and IPS officers," he added.