CALANGUTE: The 200-year-old banyan tree at Baga, Calangute, which had been replanted following an agitation after it had been uprooted in June is about to collapse after the soil around its roots has been dug out again, locals said.
Locals said the builder had allegedly excavated mud from the area to lay the foundation for a building and partially removed the soil below the banyan tree. “The tree will now collapse anytime,” said villagers.
The age old banyan tree near Piety chapel had fallen down allegedly after the developer used a JCB to excavate mud beneath the roots to weaken its grip so as to forcibly uproot it inorder to clear the ground for further excavation.
After the incident on the eve of World Environment Day on June 5, the Calangute Constituency Forum (CCF), a local NGO, had lodged a complaint about the uprooting of the tree with various authorities and following protests by Calangute residents and heritage activist Prajal Sakhardande, the tree was replanted on July 28 and had subsequently shown signs of regrowth.
However, locals have claimed that the builder while carrying out construction work has once again removed the soil below the tree in an attempt to uproot it.
