Team Herald
PANJIM: Dashing the hopes of environmentalists fighting to preserve it where it stands, the High Court of Bombay at Goa on Tuesday approved the translocation of a 200-year-old banyan tree on National Highway 66 to make way for the construction of a six-lane elevated corridor.
The court order came as it disposed of miscellaneous civil application (MCA) and recommended that the tree be translocated between March 5 and 10, strictly following the guidelines and precautionary measures provided by landscape designer and ecological consultant Parag Mody.
While the ruling may have come as a relief to the PWD and the contractor of the elevated corridor project, environmentalists expressed concerns over the survival of the tree, citing previous unsuccessful tree translocations. They pointed to the poor condition of five trees transplanted in Socorro, which are now reportedly struggling to survive.
Environmentalist Avertino Miranda expressed his concerns, stating, “Past tree translocations have been unsuccessful, and we fear that this one will meet the same fate. The expert report by Parag Mody highlights that regrowth of the tree could take ages. We are exploring options to either file a review petition or challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.”
Advocate General Devidas Pangam confirmed that the government’s minutes of the order, which outlined the
necessary precautions and expert recommendations, were accepted by the Court. "All the recommendations from the expert have been endorsed, and the detailed procedure for the tree's translocation has been agreed upon. The Forest Department will supervise the process to ensure that all precautions are followed," Pangam said.
When asked about the Khapreshwar Temple, which is located near the banyan tree, Pangam clarified that it was not part of the issue under consideration. He noted that decisions regarding the temple’s relocation were for the PWD and contractor to determine.
In response to the decision, landscape designer Daniel D’Souza urged caution, emphasising the importance of learning from past mistakes. “Banyan tree cannot be planted in low-lying areas. I suggest that the tree be cut in two parts, which will make it more easy to translocate it. Since summer is approaching, we have to make sure that the trees has a proper canopy,” D’Souza said. He also highlighted the importance of following a scientific approach to ensure the banyan tree’s survival as summer approaches.
Parag Mody’s expert report had recommended that future tree translocations involve qualified professionals with experience in arboriculture and ecological restoration. He also advised that trees should be gradually pruned to reduce stress and maintain an adequate canopy to support regrowth.