CANACONA
Greens see red in the felling of 22 Teakwood and four other forest trees in an overnight mission along the NH17 road sharp turn at Karmalghat.
Last week, Forest Officers claimed 22 Teakwood trees were found chopped by unknown persons on the midnight intervening Thursday-Friday.
According to Environmentalists, locals suspect connivance between PWD (Roads) and Forest Department for the illegal act. They also said that Environment Minister Vishwajit Rane has assured registration of an FIR and disciplinary action against the erring Forest Officers.
Forest officials were at the site early Friday morning to conduct a panchanama and began shifting the wooden logs to the Forest Depo at Pissonem in Padi.
Interestingly, Greens cried foul in the entire episode stating all the trees that were felled illegally by unknown persons are the same trees which were earmarked by the Forest Department for cutting to enable expansion of the accident-prone sharp curve along the NH66 at Kartmarlaghat.
"How were the same trees cut by some unknown persons is a big question," asked Goa Forward Party Environment Cell convenor Vikas Bhagat, adding, "Or has the Forest department in connivance with the PWD (Roads) committed the illegality and put the blame on some unknown and unfounded culprits?"
RFO, however, maintained that the trees were cut by unknown persons and an enquiry will be conducted to find the same, when Bhagat is learnt to have cornered RFO (Padi) range, raising questions leading to the chopping of trees illegally.
Dennis Fernandes another environmental lover alleged that the tree felling at Karmalghat is a clear sign of authorities conniving to destroy the environment. "Everyone wants to solve the issue at the narrow NH-66 road section, especially at Karmalghat, but what is stopping the government from doing it legally by obtaining necessary permissions and taking up the job instead of opting for shortcuts, which is illegal and harms the environment?" he questioned.
Bhagat said he already spoke to Environment Minister Vishwajit Rane, and demanded the minister's help to protect the environment. "The minister has assured to file an FIR over the illegal chopping of trees and also initiated action against the responsible Range Forest Officer."
