PANJIM: People of Panjim had to take to the streets on Friday to protect one of ts senior 'citizens'. an 80-year-old tree and its other siblings that are, according to the Smart City team, “impediments to the project’s advancement”
They and other activists rushed to stop the cutting of trees at St Inez, which were done as part of the ongoing Smart City works.
The Forest Department has granted authorisation for the removal of a rain tree and the translocation of a banyan tree, both deemed impediments to the project's advancement. Supervised by the Range Forest Officer (RFO) of Panaji and other officials, the translocation process of the banyan tree is expected to be completed by April 15,” a statement from IPSCDL, the vehicle for implementing the Smart city weorks, said.
Speaking to reporters, Avertino Miranda, founder of Goa Green Brigade, said, “There should be a tree expert, but there is not a single expert here. For translocation you need expertise. See the size of the tree. We tried to translocate a tree at Arambol but we failed. It is not easy to remove a big tree.”
“What they have done is that they have damaged the entire tree. They should have trimmed the branches. We are protecting trees and they are destroying them. Citizens are exercising their constitutional right to protest. As government has failed to protect the environment, we are protesting and citizens are forced to take to street,” Miranda said.
Prajal Sakharkhande said, “There are two trees and they are not obstructing any traffic. Panjim looks beautiful because of trees. We had requested the Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) that these trees should not be cut.”
Hrudyanath Shirodkar said, “I feel very bad that a 70-80 years old tree is being cut in the name of development. I do not know what pleasure this government gets by cutting trees.”
However, Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) claimed that it had secured all necessary permissions for cutting trees at St Inez ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
“We have permitted for the removal of a rain tree and translocation of a banyan tree, both deemed impediments to the project’s advancement,” Jiss K Varkey, Deputy Conservator of Forests, North Goa Division, Goa, said.