MARGAO: Acting swiftly on a complaint from locals, the Forest Department officers seized material used by the Margao Municipal Council workers to cut trees at Tembiwada near Damodar Sal temple even as Councillor Glenn Andrade warned that the council would be dissuaded from cutting any tree posing threat to the people.
On Wednesday, Glenn began trimming a banyan and gulmohar tree growing in an abandoned property next to the collapsed and abandoned house as according to him there were complaints from the locals that the trees were posing a threat to their lives.
However, two Advocates Showmik Angle and Benson Oliveira seeing the branches of the trees being cut complained to the Forest Department and demanded to know whether permission was granted to cut the trees.
“The trees are not on the roadside but in an abandoned property and hence the municipality cannot cut or trim them,” said Showmik Angle.
Forest Department officials swooped down at the site and seized the instruments that were used to cut the trees and also prepared a panchanama wherein it is stated that a banyan and gulmohar tree were cut. The instruments seized include eight choppers, two bush cutters, two ropes that are 30 mts long and two gallons of diesel.
Range Forest Officer Siddesh Gaude said they have seized the material and will ascertain whether the MMC had sought permission to cut the trees and accordingly take the next action.
Glenn however said he had acted in public interest and lamented that the Forest Department that should be cutting dangerous trees is harassing him for doing their work.
