MARGAO: An NGO Green Goa Foundation (GGF) has expressed serious concern about the branches of trees hanging dangerously over the highway from Margao to Canacona, which they say has become a death trap for commuters.
Taking note of the issue, the Green Goa Foundation in a memorandum urged Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and the Chief Secretary to issue directions to the concerned authorities at the earliest.
Commuters fear that these weak and hanging branches could fall at any moment especially due to the ongoing monsoon.
In the letter, Raison Almeida, chairman of Green Goa Foundation stated that several accidents have already taken place as a consequence of branches falling on the commuters. Some of the trees are dead and can fall down at any time while some branches are entangled in live electric power lines.
“For the past several years, we have been requesting the authorities to kindly trim the trees before any calamities take place. We had filed complaints in 2011 and 2019, however, despite our requests and reminders, no action has been taken,” he charged.
Almeida observed that on September 21, 2020, a tree fell on electric wires on the national highway at Panzorconi due to heavy rains and strong winds. No action has been taken till date, despite bringing this issue to the notice of the concerned authorities.
“It is essential that the trees and branches hanging over the roads are regularly trimmed and the dead trees are cut and cleared. It is observed that the authorities come to clear the roads of timber and dead wood only after an accident has taken place. It would be pertinent to take preventive action by identifying the trees that are weak or which are likely to cause traffic hazards,” Almeida said.
The GGF has now urged the Chief Minister to take necessary action against the concerned authorities for negligence of duties, within 15 days, failing which they will proceed with filing a petition before the High Court in the larger interest of the general public.
