ABEL BARRETO
abel@herald-goa.com
CANACONA: Every second day one tree topples down in Canacona. This shocking information was found on the register of the Canacona fire and emergency office, which indicates the number of calls they receive and how on an average, one tree is found to have been uprooted every second day.
Not only has this caused huge financial losses; the figures also reveal that such havoc occurs from January to October with the most number of tree falls reported during the monsoon season.
According to the data, a total of 175 trees which were uprooted, fell on houses, electrical overhead lines, roads and vehicles in the last year across Canacona taluka.
The financial losses due to this are estimated to be about Rs 15 lakh, but sources have said that the final losses could be much higher.
This recurring phenomenon has caused major hindrance to commuters who are often delayed until the tree is removed from the road.
There are instances wherein electrical appliances have been destroyed whenever the tree has fallen on or in the vicinity of the electrical overhead alignments.
This causes a financial strain on families who opt not to go for house insurance but later have to carry out the repairs of property with their own resources.
It is to be noted that the taluka has large areas under forest cover and agriculture is the main economic activity.
Canacona locals further point out that most of the houses in the taluka, have gardens that consist of a large number of tall hundred-year-old trees of various types like coconut, mango, arecanut, jackfruit etc. They observe that these trees fall partly or fully due to old age, high intensity winds, lightning and other factors. In some cases, the trees have led to the collapse of joint family structures which has further affected the subdivision of plots among siblings.
It has also caused tension amongst neighbours as sometimes the trees lean dangerously over the neighbours house. In such cases, there are provisions under law where the aggrieved neighbour can seek remedy by filing a complaint at the talukas deputy collectors office but the locals feel let down in the delay in passing and final implementation of orders to remove the dangerous trees and there have been situations where the tree has fallen before any order has passed.
Vishant Prabhu a social activist from Loliem speaking to Herald, raised concerns about the presence of hundreds of trees dangling dangerously over the 34 kms stretch of NH66 passing through the taluka and also over houses and called for action. “If action is not taken, they can fall in the upcoming monsoon season and the consequences could be fatal, added Prabhu.
Locals further stress upon the need for authorities to conduct awareness drives and help facilitate the cutting or removal of trees. They say trees that can be fatal to human life should be identified to save families from unforeseen financial losses where they are not usually prepared for such an event or have a contingency plan.
