PANJIM: NGO Goencho Avaaz has accused the Forest Department of illegally granting permission to a contractor to cut down eight mango trees for expansion of the Colvale Highway.
Addressing a press conference in the capital on Tuesday, Convener Viriato Fernandes also alleged nexus between politicians, bureaucrats and the contractors for blatantly violating the environmental laws.
“Goencho Avaaz was shocked and alarmed by the heartless butchering of trees at Colvale. The illegal permission accorded by the Forest Department to contractor M/s MVR shows the deep nexus between politicians, bureaucrats and the contractors. It is now a well known fact that the contractor who is linked to a powerful politician in India, has tremendous influence and control over the politicians and bureaucrats,” he said.
The NGO further alleged that the firm, in the business of infrastructural projects, has caused huge destruction of Goa’s fields, hills, water bodies, greenery etc.
“Right from Canacona to Patradevi, from one end to the other of Goa, M/s MVR has been systematically destroying Goa for its own profits,” Fernandes said while addressing the media along with his colleague Swapnesh Sherlekar.
Goencho Avaaz has also questioned the local MLA’s silence over the issue while pointing out to his change in loyalty from Congress to BJP in a bid to protect himself from the vigilance inquiries.
Recently, members of Green Brigade along with members of Goencho Avaaz had met the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and submitted a memorandum urging him not to allow cutting of the trees. The NGO claims that Chief Minister had assured that he will try to have an alternate plan made to save the trees but the exercise was not stalled.
