the goan I network
PERNEM
A large decades-old gulmohar tree near Pernem taxi stand was felled down on Monday midnight, with various authorities clueless about the incident.
Tourism Minister Manohar (Babu) Ajgaonkar along with newly elected PMC Chairperson Shraddha Mashelkar and some supporters visited the site on Tuesday to take stock of the situation.
A video of Ajgaonkar’s alleged comments on the felled tree went viral on social media, prompting sharp reactions from nature lovers in the area.
Incidentally, the Pernem deputy collector’s office, Pernem Forest Department and the Pernem Municipal Council (PMC) chief officer’s office all confirmed that they had not given any permit to chop the tree.
While Deputy Collector Sudhir Kerkar admitted that no permission was given from his office to fell the gulmohar tree, the Tuem Divisional Forest officer Bugde also said no permission was given to chop the tree.
When contacted, PMC Chief Gautami Parmekar she said: “I have no idea who felled the tree, but I have not given any kind of permission in this concern.”
PMC Chairperson Mashelkar later admitted that the tree was felled by the PMC.
“Birds used to dirty this place by their droppings in the vicinity. A resolution to chop down this tree was passed during the earlier PMC meeting,” she added.
Asked what steps the PMC would take for pedestrians deprived from the shade of the large tree, Mashelkar replied: “I will try and install a motorcycle pilot stand and a shed for bus passengers at the site.”
