PANAJI
Over the past one year, Goa has witnessed removal or felling of close to 5000 trees for various State and Central government owned projects, with official permission granted by the Goa Tree Authority (GTA) headed by the Chief Secretary.
The Committee has now sought compliance reports from various agencies like public works department (PWD), Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), Rail Vikas Nigam, etc, on tree plantation undertaken as compensation towards the tree felling permissions granted in the last five years.
The defaulting agencies are directed to remain present in person with the compliance data or action plan, during the next meeting, the date of which is not yet finalized.
The Tree Authority during its four meetings held in February, May, September, 2024 and in March, 2025, accorded approval for felling of 4968 trees.
During its recent meeting held in March, permission was granted to PWD to fell 222 trees in Cacora in Quepem taluka towards road widening. In the same meeting, GSIDC got approval to cut 192 trees in Ella Village in Tiswadi taluka to construct a road over-bridge along Old Goa-Cumbharjua road level crossing gate.
GTA approved a proposal from an individual in Canacona, who had proposed to cut 154 trees to cultivate cashew, Arecanut, Coconut and teak tree in the eco sensitive areas of Cotigao wildlife sanctuary.
Last year, 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 meeting held in May, 1145 trees were allowed to be axed on condition that 3,440 trees would be planted.
The Authority, during its latest meeting, observed that there is lot of backlog of tree plantation pending as far as PWD, GSIDC and other agencies are concerned.
“Regarding the agenda of overview of compliance of planting of trees by various agencies against tree felling permissions given in last five years for major projects across the State, the Authority directed that the concerned divisions write individually to each of the agencies and seek their written compliance against each such project and the same shall be taken up for review,” reads minutes of the meeting.
Last year, 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, 616 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 for construction of proposed 4-lane Assonora bypass road connecting Bicholim and Bardez talukas. A power project also got permission to fell around 1500 trees during the period.
