Team Herald
PANJIM: PWD Principal Chief Engineer Uttam Parsekar has assured the Goa Green Brigade (GGB) to hold a joint inspection of the national highway expansion site at Colvale where concerns have been raised to save age old trees.
On Friday a delegation of the GGB met Parsekar and sought his intervention in the alleged destruction of the tree cover during the expansion of the National Highway 17 in Colvale and Guirim.
In a memorandum submitted to Parsekar, GGB coordinator Avertino Miranda stated, “PWD engineers are responsible in the supervision and implementation of the NH 17 expansion of roads in Goa have failed in ensuring the protection of the age old heritage trees. The damage and cutting of these trees poses a serious environmental threat due to destruction of biodiversity as these trees not only provide us with oxygen but also are the nesting and breeding sites for birds, reptiles, insects, butterflies, bees and a wide range of biodiversity.”
They demanded deconcretisation at the base around the roots of the trees with a minimum of 1 metre by 1 metre area be taken up.
GGB has alleged that along the Guirim stretch more than 50 coconut trees have been cut down illegally. “Over 50 coconut trees have been cut illegally till date in the middle of the night and its palms, stems and roots are made to disappear to destroy any evidence of this mindless destruction of coconut and other trees by MVR Infra the NH 17 road building contractor”, the memorandum stated.
Assuring the GGB delegation of a joint inspection Parsekar said, “The engineer concerned is currently on leave and once he is back we will have a joint inspection.”
