TEAM HERALD
VASCO: Mormugao Municipal Council Chairperson, Lavina D’Souza expressed concern over the forest department’s delay in cutting the Ashoka trees along Swatantra Path in Vasco.
“There is a standing demand from shopkeepers, business houses and people that the tall and dangerous Ashoka trees be cut to prevent any untoward incident. We had initiated the work of trimming the trees. Now as we witnessed two trees collapsing in the last two months, we decided to ask for a complete survey of all the trees. The hollow and weak trees will be cut before they take away a life,” said Lavina.
Three Ashoka trees were uprooted in the last three months – the most recent being on Monday.
“Thankfully there was no casualty. In the past incidents, however, there was damage to property. Several vehicles were damaged after trees near Pavitra hotel uprooted. What is more serious is the forthcoming Saptah festival, during which the whole Swatantra Path is full of people,” said councillor Manish Arolkar.
According to the MMC, the trees are more than a 100 years old. As time passed, most of them became weak or hollow, and in some cases, their roots were exposed.
As the forest department failed to take action, Vasco councillor Krishna Salkar wrote to Forest Minister Alina Saldanha requesting her intervention. He said, “We are waiting for action. So far the forest officials held one inspection. They will conduct another inspection next week, but we require relief soon.”
Lavina D’Souza added, “The MMC is facing criticism from the public after a tree collapses. This time the MMC is talking tough. These trees come in the jurisdiction of the forest department. If they delay in taking action and if anyone loses their life, then the department will be held responsible.”
