Over 3,500 trees face the axe for highway widening in North Goa

PANAJI: For the ongoing highway four and six laning work being carried out from Patradevi to Karaswada, altogether 3,577 fruit bearing and other trees have been listed by the public works department (PWD) for hacking. Though the PWD has stated that 4,500 trees will be planted as compensation for the lost green cover, locals in different areas are opposed to the cutting of the existing trees, some of which are claimed to be nearly 200 years old.This opposition has made contractors wary and the PWD, which has issued two auction notices for the trees, has found no takers.
A delegation of Colvale locals are set to meet PWD minister Ramkrishna Dhavalikar, who other than bringing to his notice the demolition of structures, including religious ones in Colvale, will also be opposing the cutting of mango trees in the village for the highway expansion work.
“There is a spot in Colvale where six to seven mango trees stand and villagers have traditionally referred to this area as ambyani. The trees are fruit bearing ones, which are more than 200 years old. They are a village landmark. This group of six to seven mango trees in the middle of the highway had a high fence around them. Now we see that this fence has been broken down and highway work is on in full-swing near them. We fear that we will lose this landmark of Colvale. This can be easily avoided by changing the alignment of the road slightly as on either side on the spot open communidade land is available,” a Colvale local said.
The final award of the highway expansion packages was done to Navyuga Constructions and Quingdo Construction Engineering Group last week and the PWD will now be issuing an auction notice for the trees for the third time.
“We have issued two auction notices, but contractors are worried that after they deposit money with us, locals will oppose cutting of the trees and they will lose their money. But the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) will plant 4,500 trees on the Merces to Old Goa stretch,” PWD engineer N Mayenkar said.
Earlier, activists had opposed the chopping of the coconut trees lining the highway at Guirim by hugging the trees in protest. The highway is now being constructed around these coconut trees, but locals are still unhappy and say that the coconut trees are unlikely to last too long under the current conditions created around them.
“Heavy machinery is being used in proximity to the trees. There is dust and concrete all around the trees. A couple of the trees have already visibly wilted in these conditions. It is only an eyewash of building the highway around the trees,” a Guirim local said.