Goa, June 25 -- VISITACAO B MONTEIRO

The importance of man groves for the protec tion of our environment through the absorption of CO2 and harmful chemicals, as barriers against storms, for fish breeding and for their multiple benefits to our Earth can never be overempha sised. This is recognised by everybody and nobody will deny it, but in Goa one cannot allow them to grow in khazan lands where paddy is to be cultivated and harvested. It is surprising to observe that many activists and court petitioners who are fight ing for the conservation and growth of mangroves in Goa are blatantly ignorant about where mangroves should grow or be planted in Goa. I stress the words 'in Goa', be cause their place of growth outside Goa is different fro...