Photo caption.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai making a point at a media briefing on the Cabinet decision reducing the status of a tree to grass. Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai on Thursday criticised the decision taken on December 18 by the State Cabinet to amend the Preservation of Trees Act 1984, by which the coconut tree would lose its status of a tree in Goa.
He has warned that the government will have to face State-wide demonstrations and protests and bear the consequences of its irresponsible decisions, if the Cabinet decision is not withdrawn by January 16, which is the anniversary of the Opinion Poll.
Addressing the media, Sardesai said this shocking decision is another step in the obvious agenda of the BJP government for a total sell out of Goa and Goemkarponn. “The coconut tree which is considered sacred and highly respected by all sections of Goans is an integral part of Goa’s identity and the BJP government’s decision will effectively reduce its status to that of ordinary grass. The coconut tree which has over the centuries been part of Goa’s skyline has protected our coast line from soil erosion and the effects of heavy winds and its fruit has also been an integral part of all inaugural functions and other religious ceremonies. In Hindu mythology, the coconut tree is known as ‘Kalpavruksha’, the wish fulfilling divine tree which provides all necessities of life since every part of this tree has been useful to the common Goan over the years," he said.
The Fatorda MLA said that CM Parsekar’s decision that “after certain years a coconut is inevitably cut” is laughable given the fact that the normal life of the coconut tree is roughly equivalent to that of a human being and that any Goan worth his salt will not even think of cutting down a living coconut tree. “The government’s decision will only ensure that coconut trees will be cut right left and centre and that huge swathes of coconut plantations which are part of the natural landscape of Goa will disappear overnight," he said.
Accusing the government for bankruptcy of ideas and for pandering to commercial interests and its ‘notes and votes’ agenda without any consideration to Goan ethos and Goemkarponn, Sardesai wondered whether the RSS which is the ideological guru of the BJP is aware of the Goa government’s decision to denigrate the holy Kalpavruksha and why it has kept silent till now.
“The BJP government is all out to sell Goa and finish Goemkarponn by taking Cabinet decisions which do not benefit the State or its people. We will be entering the 50th year of the historic Opinion Poll in the coming year 2016 and that it was time to seek the opinion of Goemkars to save Goemkarponn by saving the coconut tree," he added.
