Team Herald
PANJIM: Social activists and environmentalists on Wednesday met the Chief Engineer of Public Works Department (PWD) to save the centuries old massive banyan tree at Vodakode which will soon be translocated as it comes in the way of the elevated corridor in Porvorim.
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Speaking to reporters at Altinho, Sanjay Barde said,” We met the official and demanded that the banyan tree at Khapreshwar Temple be protected. The authorities should refrain from translocating the tree as it would be disastrous.”
Recalling that when NH 66 was being widened, a building near Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), Bambolim, was not touched, he said efforts can be made on the similar lines and the tree can be saved.
“When a building can be protected then why can’t a tree?,” he asked and demanded that the same yardstick be applied to save the tree.
Activist Xencor Polgi said, “We have requested the engineer to instead change the alignment and protect the tree. This is not the first incident that an alignment will be changed. Earlier alignment was done to save someone’s private property and the consequences can be seen now.”
“If the government can change the alignment to protect someone’s house or business establishment then why cannot it protect the environment,” Polgi said.
The activists vowed to continue their efforts till the tree is saved.
Nature lovers have expressed concerns over the fate of trees along the corridor project, especially the banyan tree at Vodakode. They said that the heritage tree is over 100 yrs old and the famous bus-stop Vadakodem is named after this bayan tree near the Clergy Home in Porvorim.
They stated that the centuries old bayan tree which was uprooted from St Inez and translocated to an underconstruction football ground in Panjim is battling for survival and this banyan tree will meet with the same fate.
It is reliably learnt that the services of a Mumbai based firm which specialises in relocation and transplantation of trees has been roped in to translocate three banyan trees located along the 5.1 km alignment. The dates however are yet to be finalised, said an official. “The government is aware of the importance of banyan trees and religious sentiments too will be taken into consideration before going ahead with the translocation,” said an official on condition of anonymity.
