PANJIM: Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar stated that the government will take all measures to ensure that trees will not be felled along the Mapusa-Porvorim national highway.
Speaking to the media, he said efforts are being made to widen the roads by keeping the trees intact. Earlier during the week, activists had protested on the highway seeking government attention to save around 200 trees along the highway.
Parrikar said, “My instructions to PWD are very clear that do not cut trees but try and shift them. In the case of Porvorim, we are trying to fit them as a median so that two lanes will be placed on either side of the trees. I cannot say that no tree will be cut, but basically we will try and save as many trees as possible.”
Meanwhile, in the wake of the recent Curchorem suicide and subsequent footbridge collapse, the Chief Minister said that PWD will review the stability of bridges and workout a mechanism to restrain
suicides by jumping off bridges.
“Zuari bridge is monitored 24 hours, any vibration is noted. That’s the reason we want the other bridge to come up faster so the old bridge is not under stress constantly. Regarding other bridges, we have asked them to find out which have stability problems or have weakened. Secondly, we have told them to work out a mechanism so that one cannot jump from them,” he stated.
Speaking about the fears of a spill due to the sinking of a dry dock at the Western India Shipyard Limited (WISL), Parrikar said he has already reviewed the situation and there is nothing to fear.
He said, “We will provide all assistance, however, I have reviewed the situation and contact has been established with coastal disaster management for oil spill and precautions have been taken to ensure that there is no oil spill.”
