Team Herald
PANJIM: Activists have urged the authorities to shift the alignment of the flyover at Porvorim by at least two or three metres in order to ensure the preservation of the centuries-old banyan tree at Vadakade.
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The tree, a prominent landmark, is at risk due to the elevated corridor project.
Continuing their fight to safeguard the Banyan tree, social activist Shankar Phadte expressed his concerns stating, “This so-called development and the construction of the elevated corridor goes against the wishes of the people of Porvorim.” He further noted that the layout plan for the corridor, which had been finalised back in 2019, has yet to be made publicly available.
Phadte added, “Our demand is simple: religious and cultural sentiments must be respected, and the alignment of the corridor should be shifted by at least two or three metres.”
Avertino Miranda, Convenor of the Goa Green Brigade, voiced his strong opposition to the project, saying, “While we are working to protect Goa’s environment, our MLAs seem intent on destroying it. From trees and forests to mangroves, hills, and sand dunes, everything is being wiped out. Four trees have already been cut down, and experts have warned that the chances of survival for the remaining translocated trees are extremely low.” Miranda attributed this to violations of tree translocation norms, further threatening the trees’ survival prospects.
Miranda also emphasised the vulnerability of banyan trees, which are sensitive to such disruptions. “The banyan trees are being relocated after having their branches severely trimmed. This makes it unlikely they will survive,” he explained. In response, the activists have vowed to continue their protests, including holding another candlelight demonstration in a bid to save the iconic banyan tree.
The activists’ call for a shift in the corridor’s alignment and their commitment to ongoing protests highlight the growing tensions between development and environmental preservation in the region.
Activists also criticised local MLA Rohan Khaunte, who reportedly dismissed their protests as mere ‘drama’ and claimed that symbolic acts such as lighting candles would not suffice to protect the tree.
