Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the State government to implement additional safeguards for the remaining trees impacted by the construction of the six-lane elevated corridor project in Porvorim. This directive follows the crude chopping of a banyan tree that was initially slated for translocation.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
The court allowed the petitioner to include the transplantation agency, Doctor Trees from Telangana, as a respondent in the ongoing Public Interest Litigation (PIL). This inclusion aims to provide clarity on the translocation process for six trees, including three banyan trees and a Peepal tree. On Wednesday, Norma Alvares, the senior lawyer representing the petitioner, told reporters, “The court said it was willing to stop the project if the government does not have the capability to protect these trees, that it had assured to do. It also suggested an inquiry to identify the perpetrator and hold them accountable for the violent attack on the tree with a JCB.”
The PIL, filed to hold authorities accountable for replanting over 1,800 trees affected by the project, also highlights the fate of 616 trees marked for felling. According to the petitioner, the Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF), North, who serves as the Tree Officer, had earlier suggested in a critical study that four trees could be saved through translocation. The case has been adjourned to Monday, December 16, for further proceedings.
Meanwhile, Goa Green Brigade convenor Avertino Miranda stressed the importance of preserving heritage trees, many of which are nearly 200 years old. “These trees are not just plants; they are vital to our environment. They provide oxygen, shade, and habitats for birds, reptiles, insects, and countless microorganisms. We are urging that out of the 600 affected trees, at least nine, including the six banyan trees, are spared,” Miranda said. He added that past attempts to translocate such trees have largely failed, stressing the need for effective preservation measures.
