Team Herald
MAPUSA: Tree lovers from Assagao once again came on the streets on Saturday protesting peaceful and requesting Vianaar to take prompt action to save the 200-year-old Banyan tree.
The protesters claimed that the Banyan tree which was trimmed by Vianaar to carry out the construction work is hanging literally on its few roots and can be only saved if Vianaar takes prompt action.
The protesters included the children, senior citizens as well as foreigners and locals from Assagao village.
A 12-year-old protector said, “These people are big liars and cut the trees, which is not good for the environment.”
Alok, an Assagao local and lawyer by profession said, “Here people all around including the locals, foreigners and from other States, who have settled down in Assagao are present, to show their objection and to request Vianaar to save the 200-year-old Banyan tree. Along with this project, more than 20 projects of Vianaar are under construction in the village. We don’t know how they get permissions but Vianaar covers the project site and then cut down all the trees in the property to carry out the construction work.”
Alok further added, “Two months back, Vianaar tried to cut down 200-year-old banayan tree which we stopped. Now we learnt that Vianaar has trimmed the Banayan tree in such a way that it may die at any point of time if the construction firm does not take any action. Our only demand is that the 200-year-old Banayan tree should be saved.”
Over 75-year-old protestor, Aida said, “It sad to see our village getting destroyed. Trees are being cut to carry out construction work. Assagao is a heritage village but the village is losing it beauty. Construction must be done but around the trees and not by cutting down the trees. On one hand the government is telling people to plant trees but on the other giving permissions for such projects. We condemn this act of the government and request the government not to issue permissions for such projects.”
