MARGAO
Residents of Nuvem on Wednesday approached the Deputy Conservator of Forests, South Zone, with a plea to prevent the cutting down of 40-odd trees lining the Carmel College-Tata Showroom road to make way for road expansion.
The petition made by the residents to the DCF, South, assumes significance and comes against the backdrop of instructions issued by Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira to the DCF to immediately grant sanction for the cutting of the trees.
A delegation of affected residents drew the DCF’s attention to the fact that they had learned that PWD Division XIV (NH) had sought permission from the forest department in Margao to cut nearly 50 trees for the proposed expansion of the NH66 old stretch.
“There are already objections from residents against expanding this stretch, as major traffic has already moved to the western bypass of NH66. The trees marked for cutting by PWD Division XIV have existed for more than 35 years and are part of the ecological system in Nuvem village. Cutting 50 trees for this expansion will cause irreparable damage to the environment and lead to irreversible consequences,” the petition stated, urging the forest official not to grant permission for the cutting of the marked trees.
They added: “Residents along the stretch have submitted memorandums and suggestions to the NH authorities and the collector’s office to improve the existing road without expanding it, thereby saving all the marked trees and preserving the environment.”
Later, Congress leader Everson Vales told the media that residents have been requesting authorities to halt the road expansion since the government has already commissioned the western bypass, diverting all heavy traffic from the Carmel College road to the bypass. “Residents are requesting that the expansion not take place, as it will damage the environment and lead to unsafe living conditions for the residents, with the unnecessary expansion coming right up to their doorsteps,” he added.
