Team Herald
PONDA: The family at Varkhandem that awaited government help to cut the 30-metre coconut tree finally decided to hire two cranes and expert labourers who cut the tree after a two-and-half-hour effort on Friday, with guidance from Ponda Fire Station and Ponda Municipal personnel.
Family feared that the aging tree would fall on their house.
The family took the decision as Fire personnel and PMC earlier expressed their inability to cut the tree.
Son of house-owner Manmohan Chautala said he had approached local politicians, who failed to give concrete replies and decided to cut the tree, which he could not do earlier due to property dispute since 1995.
He questioned the usefulness of disaster management programme which could not provide help in time of need and said the entire exercise had cost him around Rs 25,000.
