PANAJI
While there has been much hue and cry from the public over tree cutting, the State government has permitted felling of over 4,200 trees for various State and Central owned projects like road widening, between January to May, this year.
The Goa Tree Authority (GTA) headed by the Chief Secretary, during its two meetings held in February and May, accorded approval for felling of 4,263 trees and the same has been approved by the government.
In the February meeting, permissions were granted to cut 3,118 trees while directing each project proponent to re-plant three times the trees cut. During the latest meeting in May, 1145 trees were allowed to be axed on condition that 3,440 trees would be planted.
The permissions were granted to authorities like the Public Works Department, Railways Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) and another project proponent.
When the authority met in May, they permitted PWD’s National Highway work division to fell 616 trees, as against the earlier permission of 275 trees, for construction of 6-lane elevated corridor, maintenance, management and operation of NH 17.
PWD’s NH section also got permission to cut 376 trees, as against proposed 404, for construction of proposed 4-lane Assonora bypass road connecting Bicholim and Bardez talukas.
As per the minutes of the meeting of February, RVNL was allowed to cut 737 trees for doubling of railway line along the Majorda-Vasco route, as against its request for 915 trees. RVNL was also accorded approval for cutting 122 trees for execution of railway development and electrification work along the same route.
The PWD was allowed to fell 350 trees for widening of road from Sada junction to MPT and another 136 in Margao.
In the same meeting, another project proponent was permitted to axe trees at Xeldem of which some are located in government and comunidade land and in private property.
All the user agencies were directed to undertake replantation of mixed forest species trees and coconut trees (wherever cut) under supervision of Forest Department and Goa State Biodiversity Board.
