SUNDAY, MAY 05, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa disposed of a public interest litigation (PIL) writ petition filed by historian Prajal Sakhardande and another regarding felling of a tree at St Inez, Panjim and translocation of a tree from St Inez to Campal ground.
The High Court in its order noted the statement of Advocate General Devidas Pangam that on March 11, 2024, the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) applied before the authorities seeking permission to cut six trees to go ahead with ongoing Smart City work, while permission to cut four trees was rejected as those trees were found posing ‘no’ danger. Permission was granted to translocate one banyan tree as it was coming in the way of pipeline and one rain tree was allowed to cut as it could pose danger to residential building. Both trees were marked and then the action was taken.
AG Pangam also clarified that no trees had been cut without permission under the Goa Preservation of Trees Act, 1984.
The court stated that the apprehension about the felling of trees without permission stands allayed with the AG’s statement.
“It is open to the petitioner to offer expert advice or suggestions so that the translocation is a success. If such suggestions are offered, we see no reason why the authorities, who should also be interested in successful translocation, should not consider them so that the translocation project is a success,” the court said.
The petitioners had alleged that the trees were being felled without obtaining permission from the authorities prescribed. But this contention was not substantiated in the petition, the Court said adding that merely stating that these two trees were not marked was not sufficient.
