PANJIM: The 200-year-old banyan tree, which was relocated and transplanted at the new football ground at Campal, Panjim, in April, got a fresh lease of life, as fresh leaves started to emerge, bringing a sigh of relief to environmentalists and nature lovers.
It is pertinent to note that environmentalists had condemned the repeated brutality unleashed against the hapless banyan tree by shifting it for the second time. They had raised apprehensions that the tree would meet the same fate as that of the one at Assagao that died after its relocation.
On Friday, the tree, which was translocated from St Inez to the new football ground at Campal, was unveiled.
CCP Mayor Rohit Monserrate and landscape expert Daniel D'Souza, among others, were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, the Mayor said, “This is the first tree which has been successfully transplanted so I would like to commend Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) for what they have done. I am sure the tree will do well.”
“We cut the three with the permission of the Forest Department. There was permission to translocate the Banyan tree which has been relocated here,” an IPSCDL official said.
Landscape expert Daniel D’Souza said, “The tree had lots of root zones which gave me confidence that a try can be given. For me it was better giving it a try rather than letting the 200-year-old tree die. I had nothing to lose, but to give it a try. Yes it was difficult as lots of chemicals were required. The tree is in its infant state. Let us give it positive vibes so that it grows and develops into a full grown tree by the next monsoon.”
According to IPSCDL, residents had made a request to the authorities to remove the tree on January 9, 2024, and the Forest Department granted permission on March 3, 2024. The process to translocate the tree was initiated on April 5, 2024, and the tree was finally translocated on April 7, 2024.