MARGAO
With as many as 135 trees across the Margao Municipal area expected to face the axe under the disaster management norms, questions are being raised whether the district and Civic authorities are taking measures to avoid repetition of the Nuvem incident wherein a young scooter rider lost his life after a tree came crashing down on his on the National highway in a similar operation.
The Margao Municipal Council, which had sought Rs eight lakh from the 14th Finance Commission funds for the tree cutting operation, has now been asked to utilize the Municipal fund.
The tender for the same is likely to be floated soon, but the question that remains unanswered is whether the Civic body or the Salcete mamlatdar, the agencies involved in cutting the trees will adopt all precautionary measures during the operation.
Questions are being raised whether the Margao Municipal Council has chalked out any plan to plant trees in the Municipal area jurisdiction to make up the felling of the 135 trees.
As per the survey, varieties of trees, including Banyan, Coconut, Savor, Mango, Nilgiri, Rain Trees, Tambrind, Ashoka, Jack Fruit, Bhendi, Salon, Rumbod, Gulmohar, Bhendi, Pipal, Neem etc will face the axe as and when the operation is initiated by the Civic body.
The Shadow Council for Margao has written to the MMC and the District Collector suggesting a slew of measures to ensure that the exercise is conducted in true spirit of containment of the risks as supposedly identified.
While saying the SCM has no objection to the cutting/trimming of any such tree posing risks to the public, SCM Convenor Savio Coutinho had called for the exercise to be conducted under the supervision of a forest department official. “Presence of a Forest department official becomes even more essential as we have experienced in the past how “trees were fully cut in the guise of trimming”, he added.
He said the list of tree's was drawn several months ago, hence should be inspected and certified of its present status since some of the trees are already felled by Municipal workers.
“The scope of work for the agency should be defined in the work order/tender. This becomes essential as we often see huge amounts quoted for cutting trees, but the agency eventually only cuts down the branches from the tree trunk, and thereafter remain along the road side for several months. And later the municipality struggles and incurs additional financial burden to cut them into smaller pieces so as to transport the same”, he added.
He alleged that certain representatives have offered to cut the private owned trees at the cost of public funds. "We suggest that all such private owners should be first issued a notice to cut/trim their own trees that pose danger; and failing which, the Council could cut/trim the tree and recover the costs from the owners”, he added.
