MAPUSA: The forest officials arrested three laborers and a supervisor for allegedly cutting four trees illegally on a private property in Kursawado at Assagao.The arrested persons were taken to the Range Forest Office at Campal for further investigation.
The forest officials also conducted a panchanama and seized three handsaw machines and two nylon ropes used for cutting the trees. The panchanama was conducted based on the telephonic complaint made by Goa Green Brigade. According to the panchanama four coconut trees and a teak tree were illegally cut in a private property.
Brigade Coordinator Avertino Miranda said they requested the forest department to take urgent steps on a war-footing to uphold the law and the Supreme Court directive and stop any further cutting of trees in Goa.
“Considering the fact that once pristine Goa is fast losing its green cover and global warming becoming a serious concern worldwide and the recent Supreme Court judgment that not a single tree should be cut in Goa, we at Goa Green Brigade are concerned at the manner in which the Forest Department is issuing blanket permissions to cut trees in Goa without any application of mind,” Miranda said. The Brigade also condemned the dept for granting permission to an individual to fell 60 trees in a private property in Assagao.
“First of all Assagao, is one of the rich biodiversity hotspots of Goa where trees allow the birds, insects, reptiles, butterflies and other microorganisms to thrive and any attempt to destroy this green cover will cause serious and irreparable damage,” Miranda said.
