Team Herald
PANJIM: The concerned citizens and activists held a candle light protest to save the centuries-old massive banyan tree at Vodakode which will soon be translocated as it comes in the way of the elevated corridor in Porvorim.
Speaking on the occasion, the activists said they were assured that the banyan and pipal trees at Porvorim would be saved by realigning the elevated corridor, but a politician from Porvorim is hell bent upon executing his mindless mass murder of age-old trees.
Green Brigade Convenor Avertino Miranda," We were supposed to hold the protest on December
14 but cancelled it as we were informed that realignment will be done. However, later we got information that the tree is to be cut. That is why we decided to hold the protest today."
Rama Kankonkar said," Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had said that the government has allotted Rs 20 crore for constructing temples. If Rs 20 crore is allotted for temples then why is this temple which is close to the tree being demolished. Why did the government not think of the this temple and the tree when the plan of flyover was being finalised?"
He alleged that the local MLA like other politicians also remembered the tree and the temple only during the time of elections and called on Porvorim MLA to come out and support the activists who gathered here if he cared about the Hindus and their sentiments.
Activist Tanoj Adwalpalkar said why the authorities are forgetting basic things like there will not be oxygen or shade if there are no trees.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its leaders should remember that Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) can help them and they can win elections but people of Goa will have only curse for them in their heart.
This was the second protest held by the activists. On December 7, the citizens held a similar protest against the proposed translocation of the banyan tree which will spell a death knell to the 200-plus year-old tree.
Banyan, pipal trees translocation
hearing in HC today
PANJIM: The hearing of the Banyan tree hacking opposite Damian de Goa, Porvorim will be held on Monday, December 16. The Bombay High Court at Goa has agreed to implead Doctor Trees, the agency appointed to translocate the rainforest trees by the Goa government.
The elevated corridor being built on the Porvorim National Highway 66 has 8 banyan and 1 pipal trees, which are proposed to be translocated.
Last week a banyan tree was badly hacked in defiance of the High Court order in front of Damian de Goa. This case is listed at No. 62 at the High Court and the Division Bench is likely to come up for hearing in the afternoon.