the goan I network
VASCO
Vasco’s iconic Swatantra Path is set to be restored to its former glory, with trees to line up along the street in the near future.
Work of planting saplings along the Swatantra Path began on Tuesday morning in the presence of Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar, Ward Councillor Krishna Daji Salkar, Uday Binagekar, Oscar Fernandes, Sushant Mahale, Sameer Walke and others.
Speaking to reporters, Salkar said those trees which were nearly 100-years-old had to be cut as they were were posing a threat to people.
“Following complaints from locals, these trees were declared dangerous by the Disaster Management Committee headed by the Mormugao deputy collector. After a proper survey by the forest department, the deputy collector passed an order that the trees were to be cut or trimmed. Keeping this in mind, those trees identified as dangerous in the report were eventually cut,” said Salkar.
“I immediately put up a proposal before the forest department to replant the felled trees and the forest minister had written to the deputy conservator of forests to go ahead with the project. But then, the project fell into cold storage due to political interference,” Salkar said.
Questioning the motive behind the challenge put forth by ex-chairperson Deepak Naik, Salkar hit back, “What stopped him from planting saplings if he was so concerned about the citizens of Vasco and what was he doing for the three years while he was in power as the MMC chairperson MMC, the government and the Vasco MLA by his side and all resources at his disposal?”
“During the meeting on October 26, it was decided to plant saplings from private sponsors, which has been recorded in the minutes and attended by Naik. This shows Naik was either inattentive during the meeting or issued this challenge to hide his inefficiency,” Salkar added.
