Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Thursday stayed the felling of trees at the Mopa airport site in Pernem till an appeal before the appellate authority is disposed.
The High Court has asked the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) to act as appellate authority and decide on the appeal of the NGO that had petitioned the High Court through a Public Interest Litigation. The NGO, Rainbow Warriors, through an appeal had objected to the felling of 21,703 trees at the Mopa airport site.
The HC has directed the PCCF to hear the appeal within four weeks while staying the permission granted for felling of trees.
The petitioners, who are affected villagers, have condemned the government for misusing its powers to destroy the environment and said the airport is the biggest land scam in the country.
Villagers speaking to the media in Panjim said, “We demand that all the persons involved in this illegal felling of trees and destruction of environment, including forest officials, Director of Civil Aviation, GMR management, the contractors and bank officials who have funded the project, be given strict and exemplary punishment.”
