SATURDAY, APRIL 27, 2024
Team Herald
Goa Green Brigade has welcomed the decision of the Bombay High Court at Goa, to allow to implead the Sarpanch / Panchayat Secretary of Siolim Marna Village Panchayat and the Calangute MLA Michael Lobo in the Siolim tree cutting case as Party No. 7 & 8 respectively.
The High Court has been provided with clinching evidence in the form of 2 videos and its transcriptoon by the petitioners on the alleged role played by the Siolim - Marna Sarpanch / Panchayat Secretary and Michael Lobo in butchering the 35 age-old heritage trees in Siolim both on the roadside and in private properties.
Those found guilty must be given exemplary punishment so that it acts as a deterrence in the future and to ensure that law makers don't become law breakers, urged Goa Green Brigade.
Goa has been witnessing large-scale, blatant, unlawful and rapid destruction of trees and private forests in recent times by builders and others for mega projects in conivance with the forest officials, politicians and those in power who are out to destroy Goa's rich natural heritage. This reckless destruction on the pretext of development will rapidly convert Goa into a desert with serious implications on our ground water resources, top-soil run-off and its overall environment and rich biodiversity.
While the Goa Green Brigade is not against development, but it has to be sustainable and without destruction of our natural heritage. Build roads around the trees as the expanded roads invariably are occupied to park vehicles or for commercial carts. Expansion of roads is not the solution. The Goa government must provide eco-friendly, descent public mass transportation, especially the last mile transport to ensure people reach their final destination to their respective towns and villages, so as to discourage personalised transport vehicles. This will help reduce road traffic.
The government clearly lacks foresight, vision and planning at the village level therefore we are witnessing haphazard development in Goa. Village level planning in consultation with the people is crucial, instead of imposing mega projects on villages that destroys its rich heritage and traditional occupations of fishing and farming which are pivotal for Goa's village economy and employment.
Goa Green Brigade has appealed to the people of Goa to remain alert and protect the State's rich natural heritage and its resources, be it trees, forests, mangroves, water, sand, agricultural lands, sand dunes, rivers and rivulets, mountains, mineral resources, etc.
