MAPUSA
They also demanded politicians, who took part in similar protest to save coconut tree in 2016 should come forward and fulfill their promises.
“You have won (the assembly election) on the coconut symbol. You have fooled the electorate. Now it is their duty to fulfill the promises made to the electorate,” said Prajal Sakhardande, environmentalist.
Prajal Sakhardande, social activist, Reboni Shah, Prasad Pankar and others took part in the protest organized by Revolutionary Goans at the Guirim Cross to oppose axing of the coconut trees to widen the Guirim-Porvorim highway.
Reminding the presence of current ministers, Vijai Sardessai and Rohan Khaunte, in the 2016 protest on the same Guirim-Porvorim road, Sakhardande said it was time for them to stand by their word and fulfill promises made to the electorate.
He said there was no need to cut the trees and the service roads could be worked around the coconut trees.
“They can build service roads on the sides. Already the road is wide. There is no need to cut the trees,” he said.
He also said rampant land filling was rampant in the whole of Goa and they were concerned about that too.
Noted photographer, Prasad Pankar said the group was not against development but condemned unnecessary cutting of trees.
“We are not against development. But in this case, there is no need to cut the trees. People come to Goa because of its greenery and not for bridges, flyovers and broad roads,” Pankar said.
