CALANGUTE: The Calangute Constituency Forum on Friday urged the authorities to restore at its original place, an over 200-year-old banyan tree which had been uprooted by a builder at Khobra Vaddo on the eve of World Environment Day.
On Friday in a memorandum to the state chief secretary and other authorities, the CCF has stated that the builder approached the deputy collector, Mapusa, on June 5, and by misrepresenting facts managed to obtain an order within hours to cut up the fallen tree, when the forest department had already registered an offence in March 2022 during a previous attempt to cut the tree.
On Monday, the CCF had stated that a builder “has forcibly uprooted a more than 200 years old banyan tree existing on the boundary of his property at Khobra Vaddo, Calangute, by excavating mud and cutting the roots. It is very much evident that the mud was removed by engaging an earthmover and cutting the roots of the tree which shows the clear intention of the developer to uproot the tree from the site as it was disturbing the development activities. It is also understood that two electricity poles at the side of the property were shifted two days before the felling of the tree. This shows that the builder has executed a well-thought plan to uproot the tree. We therefore demand a proper investigation in the matter and a departmental enquiry against the concerned officers,” the CCF said.
On Thursday, following complaints by locals, Calangute MLA Michael Lobo visited the spot of the uprooted tree and said there are a lot of illegalities visible at the construction site where the tree was uprooted.
“There is photographic evidence that the excavation has been done under the tree. I’m fully supporting any initiative to replant the uprooted tree,” Lobo said. He said that the ongoing construction is also being carried out haphazardly. “The village panchayat has to issue a stop-work order and revoke the construction licence,” he said.
