Goa Foundation
Encyclopedia
The Goa Foundation is the best known of Goa
's environmental action groups. Founded in 1986 by a group of Goan environmentalists each fighting individual environmental battles, the organisation today holds influence with the judiciary, government and the general public, having persisted with its environment agenda for nearly two decades.
The work of the Foundation spans different areas and fields, all related in some way or another with the conservation of the Goan environment:
The Foundation has assisted in the formation of a non-profit company called Green Goa Works, chaired by Wendel Rodricks, Goa's internationally known fashion designer. The company has been registered under Section 25 of the Company's Act. It deals only with environmental rehabilitation projects especially those relating to environmental friendly means of disposing of solid wastes.
Goa
Goa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
's environmental action groups. Founded in 1986 by a group of Goan environmentalists each fighting individual environmental battles, the organisation today holds influence with the judiciary, government and the general public, having persisted with its environment agenda for nearly two decades.
The work of the Foundation spans different areas and fields, all related in some way or another with the conservation of the Goan environment:
- Environmental litigation: The Foundation has filed and fought more than 80 Public Interest Litigations in the High CourtBombay High CourtBombay High Court at Mumbai, Maharashtra, is the High Court of India with jurisdiction over the states of Maharashtra & Goa, and, the Union Territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli...
and the Supreme Court of IndiaSupreme Court of IndiaThe Supreme Court of India is the highest judicial forum and final court of appeal as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India...
on environmental issues. These petitions deal with mining, forests, beaches, pollution from industry, town planning, etc.
- Environment Education: The organization has remained at the forefront of environmental education efforts with its flagship volume, Fish Curry and Rice, a periodically updated citizens' environment report. From time to time, the organization holds public interest law courses for the general public, with a strong emphasis on environmental concerns.
- Management of Solid Wastes: The Foundation continues to work on specific environmental problems facing the state of Goa including the management and handling of solid wastes; for these projects it has been supported by the Goa governmentGoa assemblyThe Goa Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the state of Goa in western India. It consists of 40 members. In charge of the budget, the Assembly appropriates money for social programs, agricultural development, infrastructure development, etc...
and the UNDP Small Grants Project. Its most recent project in this direction is the removal of plastic litter from the Goan environment.
- Statutory Responsibilities: The Foundation has been nominated to the Goa State Coastal Zone Management Authority and to the Supreme Court Monitoring Committee on Hazardous Wastes (which is an all-India responsibility).
The Foundation has assisted in the formation of a non-profit company called Green Goa Works, chaired by Wendel Rodricks, Goa's internationally known fashion designer. The company has been registered under Section 25 of the Company's Act. It deals only with environmental rehabilitation projects especially those relating to environmental friendly means of disposing of solid wastes.