PANAJI
A bench of the Bombay High Court at Goa on Tuesday adjourned the matter related to felling of trees in Siolim for Wednesday to seek clarity from engineers of the Public Works Department (PWD) after the State informed that it was not involved in the road widening project.
The division bench of Justices Mahesh Sonak and Valmiki Menezes noted that the case was getting “curiouser” with the oral submission of the State’s counsel
The court directed the State’s counsel to seek clarity from the engineers of the PWD as to who is widening the road and who commissioned the felling of the trees.
“They have life,” Justice Sonak commented in open court even as he added that one cannot go on cutting trees like this.
Justice Menezes added: “We accept that trees have been cut but we have to preserve whatever is left.”
The tree cutting contractor, who is also a respondent, failed to update the court and his lawyer informed the court that he has been hospitalised following which he was permitted time to respond.
In a significant move, the High Court had intervened to halt the wanton felling of trees along the Siolim-Marna road stretch for a road widening project.
The court, responding to a public interest petition (PIL) filed by local residents, had expressed deep concern over the indiscriminate cutting of heritage trees and directed the government to investigate the matter thoroughly.
The court had granted a stay on further tree felling and instructed the forest department and police to maintain strict vigilance over the site from Siolim market junction up to Assagao-Badem junction.
The PIL was filed by concerned citizens who alleged that the felling of trees was undertaken without proper approvals, as the trees were not marked. It was reported that 35 trees had already been felled, with more than 100 expected to face a similar fate.
The petitioners also highlighted the absence of documentation or permissions from contractors involved in the activity.
It may be recalled, local residents took to the streets to protest against the tree felling, organizing candlelight vigils to raise awareness about the issue.
The court’s intervention marks a crucial step in safeguarding the environment and ensuring responsible development practices in the region.
