Locals and activists meet Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi on Wednesday, joined by Union Minister of State Shripad Naik, to discuss environmental concerns.
MAPUSA
In a bid to save the heritage banyan tree at Porvorim, which holds significant religious and cultural value, a group of locals and activists from Goa met Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, on Wednesday evening.
The minister assured them that he would explore ways to preserve the tree amid ongoing development plans.
The delegation, accompanied by Union Minister of State for Power and Renewable Energy, Shripad Naik, had a brief yet encouraging interaction with Gadkari, which lasted a little over five minutes at his office.
Activist Dipesh Naik, part of the delegation, expressed optimism after the meeting.
“Union Minister Gadkari gave a positive response to our appeal and directed the engineers to examine the possibility of saving the tree. We are confident this will lead to a favorable outcome,” Naik stated.
The delegation handed over a memorandum to the Union Minister with a plea to save the 200-year-old banyan tree.
The banyan tree, located at Vadakade in Porvorim, is at risk of being translocated to make way for a six-lane elevated corridor. However, the tree’s cultural and religious significance has drawn widespread public opposition, with demands to explore alternative solutions.
