PANJIM: Widespread tree felling is noticed all over Goa. People have been continuously protesting this destruction of natural tree cover, especially of age old trees. In this edition of Street Voices, we asked people ‘Are the authorities giving tree felling permissions easily, without concern for the environment?’
There is large scale slaughtering of trees in the name of development. Even 500 year old trees are being cut in the name of development. The government and the forest department is not much bothered about the environment, they just allow cutting of trees. This is all being done to benefit the builders’ lobby.
Not only have they finished the shade giving trees in the city, they are even cutting off the forests. But if any person wants to cut a dangerous tree in his own yard, the person has to sweat it out. They demand to bring document after document. But in the name of development they are bringing about concretisation.Mariano Ferrao, Social Activist
With regard to hill and tree cutting, every authority denies that they have given permission, in so many illegal properties. Does that mean that the builders are simply doing hill cutting without permissions. That means they have connived with you all.
The partners in crime may be telling the builders, ‘government is with you, you go on cutting the trees.’ If we put the minister on the lie detector maching, the Polygraph machine will explode. The Ministers, directors, chairman are all liars.Anthony D’Silva, Social Activist
When a common man goes to the Forest Department to cut dangerous trees which are leaning over his house, they put thousands of restrictions. But the same department without any reason allows cutting of hundreds of trees. I want to ask the Forest Department why are you distributing tree cutting licences like Prasad? For whose benefit are you granting them? Why are you destroying our forests?
I appeal to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to keep an eye on the Forest Department. These permissions which they are giving are not good for humanity in the long run. This will be devastating for the future generations. If outsiders come and keep settling in Goa, the existence of Goans will be destroyed.Shailesh Gawas, Advocate