In a move that sparked widespread protests from social activists and devotees, authorities successfully shifted a centuries-old banyan tree and the idol of Lord Khapareshwar to facilitate the construction of the six-lane Porvorim flyover.
The Bombay High Court had recently granted permission for the translocation of the banyan tree; however, the court’s order made no mention of the adjacent Khapareshwar temple.
This omission led to a strong backlash from devotees and activists, who gathered in large numbers on Sunday to oppose the removal of the idol.
Tensions escalated throughout the day as demonstrators demanded to see official documentation authorizing the temple’s removal.
Despite persistent requests, officials were reportedly unable to produce such an order, further fueling the protests.
As a precautionary measure, the highway department exercised restraint, ensuring that law and order were maintained.
By late Sunday night, with the situation remaining tense, authorities proceeded with relocating the idol under tight security.
However, due to technical difficulties, the operation was temporarily halted after two hours of effort. Protesters initially believed their resistance had succeeded, but the relocation resumed after midnight.
According to officials, the removal of the banyan tree required extensive excavation, which was not feasible without first relocating the temple idol.
At approximately 4 a.m. on Monday, the statue of Lord Khapareshwar was carefully moved to the highway contractor’s office, where it is currently housed under 24-hour police security.
Following the idol’s relocation, work on uprooting the historic banyan tree commenced. During the process, which involved the use of heavy machinery, several branches;already pruned earlier in the day,sustained damage, with some breaking off completely.
Eyewitnesses reported that the tree split in the middle while being lifted by a crane, raising concerns among environmental experts about its chances of survival post-translocation.
The relocation effort has drawn sharp criticism from environmentalists and religious groups, who question the necessity of the move and its execution.
While the administration maintains that the tree and idol were relocated in accordance with infrastructural requirements, the controversy surrounding the decision is expected to persist.