the goan I network
MAPUSA
Till today the iconic mango trees of more than 200-years-old are standing tall in the middle of the NH-66 at Colvale but there is no guarantee that it will remain so till tomorrow.
But that did not dither the green warriors who descended at the site on Wednesday morning to protest against cutting of the heritage trees.
Initially, there were just around 20 persons leading the protest but the number soon swelled to around 100 by mid-noon
“The four-laning of the highway in this area has not been done in the interest of the locals. The villagers were shown a video that there will be two roads on either side of the trees. Now, they have introduced a flyover and increased of width of the road by 10 metres. So the trees have to go,” said Roshan Matheus, as social activist from Candolim.
He said the engineers have also failed to adopt a scientific approach to weigh upon other options.
The renowned fashion designer who is a resident of Colvale, Wendell Rodricks called it the “murder of Colvale”.
“My heart bleeds as a Gaonkar. All non-Goans who are doing their job (God bless them) they cannot understand why we are so agitated…such a tragedy,” Rodricks lamented in his Facebook comment.
The fashion designer was present at the site near the age-old trees and expressed his disgust at the decision to cut the trees to make way for the four-lane road.
Besides being an ace fashion designer, Rodricks is known to be very outspoken in his views on social issues particularly concerning Goa.
Captain Viriato Fernandes, Manoj Parab, Shekhar Naik and several other active members of Goencho Avaaz, Avertino Miranda of Goa Green Brigade were also present at the site protesting against the cutting of trees.
Members of Goencho Avaaz along with other like-minded groups will meet PWD Minister, Ramkrishna Sudhin Dhavlikar on Thursday in bid to try and save the trees.
“We came to stall the work to cut down these old and antic trees. We spoke to the authorities and have planned a meeting with the minister tomorrow to resolve this issue and to come out with an alternative plan,” said Fr Simon Fernandes, Chairman of St Britto’s High School, who was present at the site.
FIGHT AGAINST TIME
Initially, there were just around 20 persons leading the protest but the number soon swelled to around 100 by mid-noon
The renowned fashion designer who is a resident of Colvale, Wendell Rodricks called it the “murder of Colvale”
Captain Viriato Fernandes, Manoj Parab, Shekhar Naik and several other active members of Goencho Avaaz, Avertino Miranda of Goa Green Brigade were present at the site
They will meet PWD minister on Thursday to save the trees
