the goan I network
MAPUSA
Planned development and beautification comes at a price. And in Mapusa, it has come at the cost of decades-old trees.
The dreaded axe has fallen on the Ashoka trees that dotted the main avenue at the entrance of the Mapusa city.
Lined-up squarely from Gandhi Chowk to Hutatma Chowk, the trees that gave a unique view to the city had to go, ostensibly as part of a beautification plan.
Surprisingly, although the trees that have been chopped are on a busy thoroughfare, no one in the city has raised an eyebrow so far.
Justifying the decision, Mapusa Municipal Council Chairman Rohan Kavlekar said: “We are removing the Ashoka trees and will replace them with new fruit-bearing ones. The new tree planting will be done in a planned manner and the whole area will get a new look.”
Almost a dozen of the Ashoka trees have already been chopped and the remaining rain trees are also expected to meet the same fate.
The chopping activity which started more than a week back was carried out mostly late in the night.
Quoting experts, the MMC chairperson said the Ashoka tree was not a tree and served no purpose.
“It’s (Ashoka tree) not a tree and does not benefit anyone. It gives no fruit nor does it benefit anyone. And its roots go haywire,” Kavlekar opined.
He said MMC has contacted an organization which will plant trees in a planned manner all around the city.
“An organization has already given us a presentation. We will soon hold a meeting and discuss the plan with other councilors,” he said.
The chairperson further said that some trees near the entrance of the Mapusa municipal market were weak in health and needed to be replaced.
“We will first beautify the Gandhi circle…We are also going to replace some trees from Union Pharmacy to Bank of Goa. We will also plant trees at Canca bypass and along the route from court junction to St Xavier’s College,” he said.
