VASCO: Taking strong cognizance of destruction of hundreds of mangroves all along the national highway from Cortalim junction to Shantadurga temple junction in Sancoale, the officials of state Forest Department on Monday inspected the site and booked a case against unknown persons.
According to the Deputy Conservator of Forests, South Goa, Anil G Shetgaonkar, they received a complaint that some unknown persons have cut down hundreds of mangroves as well as many trees along the road in Sancoale.
“As we had received the complaint, our officers from Mormugao inspected the site on Monday and found that around 350 trees including mangroves were cut down by some unknown persons. After physical verification we found that most of them were mangroves and thus as we have not given any permission for the same, we have booked a case against unknown persons and further investigation is in progress” Shetgaonkar said.
Meanwhile, Herald investigation revealed that it is the Public Works Department (National Highway division) has proposed to widen the NH17-A road width by two metres on both sides. Thus without taking any permission from Forest Department, the work recently started from Cortalim side and as the mangroves were creating obstructions to the said road widening, the department chopped down the thick mangrove cover from Cortalim junction to Shantadurga temple junction.
