CALANGUTE: Following protests and efforts by a local NGO and residents, the huge banyan tree which had allegedly been uprooted by a builder at Khobrawaddo, Baga, Calangute, on the eve of World Environment Day in June, is likely to be replanted soon.
The 200-year-old banyan tree near Piety chapel had fallen down allegedly after the developer engaged a JCB to excavate the mud beneath the roots of the banyan tree to weaken the grip of the tree to the ground so as to forcibly uproot the tree 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) had lodged a complaint about the uprooting of the tree with various authorities, and following protests by Calangute residents and heritage activist Prajal Sakhardande, there had been a demand to replant the uprooted tree.
CCF president Premanand Divkar said the builder has given an affidavit to the Calangute panchayat agreeing to replant the tree. “Depending on the weather, we will start the process to replant the tree on Thursday. A horticulture expert will be coming to examine the roots and condition of the tree,” he said.
