MARGAO: The locals of Mollo in Pale village expressed anguish after the mango tree and several other fully-grown trees they tried to save with protests and complaints over the past few days were cut down by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) on Tuesday evening.
Ex-Environment Minister Alina Saldanha, landowner Ashok Souza, Goencho Ekvott (GE) founder Orville Dourado Rodrigues, Velsao Sarpanch Maria Diana Gouveia and other locals converged at the spot on Tuesday and confronted the RVNL officials, questioning them about the illegal felling of age old fruit-bearing trees which were the livelihood of the local population. It is to be noted that the trees are located near the houses of the locals in the area too.
These developments come against the backdrop of recent protests against double tracking in Mollo where locals had earlier objected to the alleged destruction of the Mollo creek.
“Just as most of the villagers were having their afternoon siesta, news started filtering in the area that a gang of workers led by RVNL officers had descended on the site around 2.30 pm and immediately started felling the mango tree which has been a source of sustenance for several generations of a local family. Fervent pleas by the family fell on deaf ears as four electric chain saws were used to fell the trees with a few minutes,” said Rodrigues while describing what had happened.
By the time the villagers and the village sarpanch Diana Gouveia reached the spot in a difficult ground terrain, the tree was already cut into small sections. Within 15 minutes, former Environment Minister Saldanha, and GE founder Rodrigues reached the spot along with the land owner Souza. All three questioned the RVNL officials, but got no response from them, as the matter is sub-judice in the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court.
“Earlier, when villagers had questioned the RVNL officials about the ownership of the land, RVNL informed them that 24 meters width from the centre of the existing track is required for double tracking. In short, it means that the entire hamlet at Mollo, Pale village consisting entirely different of traditional dwellers like toddy tappers and fishermen will cease to exist,” Rodrigues added.