the goan I network
VASCO
Once a shady and scenic route, the Swatantra Path in Vasco today lacks the luster after several Ashoka trees on both sides of the road, dating to Portuguese times, were cut around three years ago by ward councillor Krishna (Daji) Salkar, after a few trees began collapsing during the monsoons.
Three years later, there has been a growing demand that trees on both sides of the road be replanted as assured by Salkar.
BJP Mandal Vasco has now served a one-month ultimatum to Salkar to replant the trees, failing which the BJP block with the support of Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida will hold an event to plant trees in the ward represented by Salkar themselves.
According to sources, some trees along the Swatantra Path began falling over due to heavy winds and strong rains and there had been a demand to chop down the weak age-old trees.
Considering public demand and safety of citizens during Saptah, Salkar had proceeded to cut all the trees along the road with an assurance to replant new ones
in the same tree guards
made for the age-old Ashoka trees.
Speaking to reporters, former MMC chairperson and sitting councillor Deepak Naik said Salkar had cut all the trees along the path without a proper study and survey to identify the weak trees.
“It’s good to cut the trees if they were posing a danger to citizens, but why were all the trees cut? Who will plant new ones,” asked Naik.
“Salkar had assured to plant new trees, but nothing has been done for the past three years. We will give him an ultimatum of one month to plant new trees and if he fails to replant the trees, the BJP Mandal with the support of Vasco MLA Carlos Almeida will hold an event to plant new trees in his ward,” warned Naik.
Social activist Kiran Naik said Salkar had cut the weak as well as healthy Ashoka trees along the path.
“Some of these trees were cut on grounds that they were posing danger to the citizens of the Port Town, but there were 13 healthy trees which were cut for no reason. The tree guards have been lying vacant for the past
three years and are now hindering parking of vehicles,” said Naik.
