In the former, it was the issue of the Ashoka trees crashing down on Swatantra Path with fears of endangerment of life and property and thus all the offending Ashoka trees are understood to be slated for the woodcutter’s axe.
In the same manner at Panjim, an old and large tree fell in front of Kala Academy and after that, a few days later a tree came crashing down in Taleigao. Luckily, at both places no lives were lost or much of property damaged. The uproar then was cut the trees first. But no one asked – Why were the trees falling down? Was it because the pavements or roads had been made close to the trunks of the trees leaving them with no way to obtain sustenance from the ground? The roots of the trees go down into the soil but unless the topsoil is not left clear and open for water to seep through the tree does not get enough nourishment. This is more so since the material used for laying our pavements or roads stops water from percolating down into the ground. Thus for the tree it is like slow starvation and finally having no strength anymore, it falls down.
The solution, therefore, is not to cut the trees but create a specification with the PWD and all authorities connected with building infrastructure how much space should be allowed around each tree depending on its type, size and age that will allow it to live with respect. This will lead to less number of trees crashing down and causing damage to human life and property.
We need to remember that trees were the first infrastructure and have contributed to our development and today in the name of development, mostly haphazard, we should not slaughter them. Even our eminent Forest Minister says that trees can be cut, so one needs to ask what kind of a minister is she, for trees or against trees? She also says that new trees should be planted where trees are cut little realizing that none of the planted trees may ever reach the size of the tree that you are now cutting. Thus existing trees need be protected.
What she should have done is called in the PWD Minister and given him a specification on how to protect trees that come in the way of development (?) and to follow it strictly, in both letter and spirit. That is the only way we can protect our trees and forest cover. It is not enough to quote figures at the macro-level that Goa’s forest cover has been increasing but concentrate on each and every tree since it is like human life, even one life lost is a tragedy.
