MARGAO: In the next few days nearly 135 trees in the Margao Municipal jurisdiction will face the axe as the civic body is expected to spend nearly Rs 8 lakh from its treasury on the exercise.
The reason cited to cut/trim these trees is that they pose danger. This decision has raised eyebrows as the State has witnessed disasters recently which have caused destruction to the environment.
According to sources, the South Goa District Collectorate has already given the green signal to cut/trim 135 trees, including the age-old ones at Kadamba Bus Stand, Margao. However, Margao municipality is in a tight spot, as it cannot afford such a huge amount (nearly Rs eight lakh) just for cutting/trimming these trees. Few residents claimed that for the first time in MMC’s history a huge amount will be spent on such works.
The list of such trees was prepared by municipality in April 2021. A team of MMC along with officials of Fire and Emergency Services had surveyed Margao and Fatorda areas and had prepared a list of nearly 100 trees. However, later the Collectorate office added more trees and gave its approval to the municipality to go ahead with the exercise.
With the authorities declaring these trees as dangerous and armed with an order from the South
District Collector, MMC will soon invite tenders worth Rs 8 lakh for the cutting/trimming the trees which include banyan, coconut, savor, mango, nilgiri, rain trees, tamarind, Ashoka, jackfruit, bhendi, salon, rumbod, gulmohar, bhendi, pipal, neem and others.
MMC chairperson Lyndon Pereira admitted that the list of nearly 135 trees has been prepared by the civic body.
“The list includes the trees in Fatorda and Margao areas. However, in the initial stages, the number of trees was less but the Collectorate office added some more to the list. A rough estimate to undertake the works will cost municipality nearly Rs 8 lakh”, he said.
The chairperson said the MMC requested the Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) to sanction funds under the 14th Finance Commission to undertake the works. However, it was not approved. Instead, DMA asked the MMC to spend the money from its treasury.
On the other hand, the concerned residents of Margao are frustrated and have alleged a scam in this matter.
Savio Coutinho said in this connection, the Shadow Council for Margao (SCM) has a written to the MMC and the District Collector suggesting a slew of measures to ensure that the exercise is conducted in the true spirit of containment of the risks as supposedly identified.
Categorically stating that the SCM has no objection to the cutting/trimming of any such tree posing danger to the public, he demanded that the exercise be conducted under the supervision of a forest department official.
“The presence of a Forest Department official becomes even more essential as we have experienced in the past how trees were fully cut under the guise of trimming”, he said.
He said the list of trees was prepared several months ago. The present list should be inspected and certified as some trees were felled by municipal workers.
Savio said the scope of work for the agency should be defined in the work order/tender.
“This becomes essential as we often see huge amounts quoted for cutting trees, but the agency eventually only trims the branches, which are left along the roadside for several months. And later the municipality struggles and incurs additional financial burden to further cut and transport them”, he stated.
He alleged that after going through the list, in many cases it can be well established that certain representatives have offered to cut the trees in private properties at the cost of public funds.
“We suggest that all such owners should be issued a notice to cut/trim their trees which pose danger, and failing which, the council could cut/trim the trees and recover the costs from them”, he stated.
Nature lover Pradeep Raikar from Margao said it is unfortunate that even the century-old trees have been listed.
“Trees are being axed citing the reason that they are posing a danger to humans but we forget that such acts of mankind will lead to more disasters in the future “, he added.
