PANJIM: The farmers and villagers of Merces on Friday accused the Morombi O Grande Tenant Association for allegedly cutting mangroves and damaging sluice gate.
The farmers said that as many as 20 mangroves were found destroyed at Merces. They said that the Tiswadi Mamlatdar had given permission to the tenant association to repair a bundh but the association office-members damaged mangroves and built a separate bundh for reasons best known to them.
“I don’t think that the Tiswadi Mamlatdar had given them permission to cut mangroves, which are required to maintain ecology,” a villager said.
Retired deputy conservator of forests Subhash Henriques said that big trees have been razed by using a bulldozer.
He said that in November, last year weeding was done which was optimally required. “We don’t require a bulldozer to chop mangroves from 10 to 15 metres from the main road and from the bundh. I have got photographs to prove,” he said.
Taking serious note of destruction of mangroves at Merces, Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane said that that the SDFO and the Panjim Range Staff inspected the site after receiving a report from the APCCF.
He said that the land belonged to the Comunidade and that the tenant association has committed an offence.
According to the Minister, 29 trees were found destroyed and that an offence has been booked for violation of the Goa Preservation of Trees Act, 1984, with a notice issued to the land owners.
“Stern action is the need of the hour, as mangroves need to be protected at all costs,” Rane said.
