After a sustained spell of criticism over its legislation which de-recognised the coconut palm as a tree, Goa Chief Minister laxmikant Parsekar went out of his way to announce measures to boost cultivation and production of coconuts, right from a hiked support price to setting up of a coconut board.
Parsekar in his Budget speech on Wednesday also said that opponents of his Government were in the process of politicising the coconut issue for petty ends.
Defending the Goa Government’s decision to do away with the earlier mandatory permission from the forest department for felling of coconut trees, Parsekar said that the decision was taken since coconuts are considered a horticultural crop and not a forest produce.
“Coconut is a horticulture crop and its felling needs to be under the control of the agriculture department, not the forest department… A no objection certificate from agriculture department will now be made mandatory for cutting of coconut trees. Orders to the effect will be issued soon,” Parsekar said.
The Goa legislative assembly in January this year had passed a controversial amendment to the Goa, Daman and Diu Protection of Trees Act, which de-recognised coconut palm as a tree. It was formally accorded assent by governor Mridula Sinha last week.