Seeks methodology by Jan 20
PANAJI
The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday ordered a stay on the translocation of the banyan tree at Vodakkodem, Porvorim until the next hearing scheduled for January 21.
The Hyderabad-based firm Doctor Trees India Pvt Ltd, had submitted a proposal detailing the method to be used for translocating the tree. However, the petitioner had rejected the proposal, citing concerns over its previous haphazard execution along the same stretch where the elevated corridor works are underway.
The High Court has thus directed the agency to submit a detailed affidavit on the methodology for translocating trees by January 20 and
fixed the next hearing for January 21.
As part of the project, the PWD had recently informed the Court that five out of six trees identified for translocation had already been relocated. The department also confirmed the identification of a suitable site, located 300 metres away in Socorro, for translocating the banyan tree.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, activist Avertino Miranda slammed the manner in which the five age-old trees including two banyan trees were translocated.
He alleged that one of these trees had been infested by mites and also claimed that authorities overlooked crucial guidelines issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), particularly the mandatory three-month pre-treatment period for the trees.
