Trees take several decades to grow. It barely takes a couple of hours to bring these majestic creations of the Almighty God to the ground by heartless people-in-power. Citizens of Panaji had to take to the streets on Friday to protect an 80-year old tree and other younger trees which according to the Smart Team are “impediments to the project’s advancement”. One wonders how trees can be an obstacle to development. Both development and saving the environment should co-exist. There have been instances in other countries wherein roads have been diverted in order to save the trees.
It is learnt that the authorities concerned have secured all necessary permission for cutting down these age-old trees. It is not a question of getting permission. It is not a stand-off between the citizens and the authorities. It is all about saving these trees, many of which are much older than the authorities themselves. It is all about saving nature for which all should join hands irrespective of which side of the fence one is sitting on.
If not, future generations will never forgive us for converting Panaji city into an arid desert-like city. It is learnt that the Forest Department has given authorization for the removal of a rain tree and translocation of a banyan tree. The task of the Forest Department should be to make all efforts to save each and every tree by not allowing its indiscriminate cutting. Translocation of the massive banyan tree is not an easy task. It’s not just about relocating a fully grown tree to another spot. The tree has to survive. For this the service of experts in the field is necessary which can be obtained from other states. A company in Hyderabad has successfully translocated several trees to make way for a project. Trees are systematically butchered not only in Panaji but across the state ostensibly for road widening. The importance of trees for survival of life is all too well known. By cutting down trees we are cutting down on our life-span and digging our own graves in the long run.
