VASCO
In a bid to restore the Swatantra Path to its former glory, Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Councillor Krishna Daji Salkar on Friday undertook a tree plantation drive.
The plantation drive, along with beautification of the Swatantra Path, is being taken up at a cost of Rs 8 lakh under the CSR activity of Vinsan Group.
Around 50 palm trees were planted at the hands of Salkar, senior citizens and residents. Also present were MMC Chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar, Sanjay and Vince Shetye of Vinsan group, MMC Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes, industrialist Narayan Bandekar and Fr Gabriel Coutinho.
The event was blessed by parish priest of St Andrew’s Church Fr Gabriel Coutinho who lauded the MMC decision to replant the trees and appealed to the people to take nurture these well.
Speaking on the occasion, MMC Chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar said the drive was undertaken to bring back memories of yesteryears when trees lining the Swatantra Path added to the scenic beauty to the city.
Gaonkar appealed to the people to support the drive and assured of plantation drives in other parts of the city. MMC ward councillor Krishna Salkar said that this drive was long-pending as the residents of Vasco had an emotional connection with the old trees that had grown weak and as a result had to chopped down for sake of motorists’ and people’s safety.
Salkar said he had plans to replant the trees immediately but due to ‘revengeful’ politics, the drive could not be taken up. He said the council was pro-development and would soon come out with many projects for the port town.
Sanjay Shetye of Vinsan said the group always wanted to do something for the city and when Salkar mentioned about the trees, he immediately agreed and financed the project. He said the group would take up more such projects in the future for the betterment of the city.
