The villagers of Melauli, Guleli, fighting to save their from the IIT Goa project, decided to celebrate the Rakshabandhan festival in a unique way by of “Vrukshabandhan”, tying Rakhis to the trees, which are likely to go under the axe.
Speaking to Goenmkarponn.com, Shubham Shivolkar said that the Melavli villagers around 300, in batches, tied a traditional thread to most of the trees which are been marked or counted by government organization and even those which are not but are included in syno.67/1 area proposed for IIT Goa.
“We the villagers have sentimental values, reasons and also are devotional towards the trees presents in the region wherein IITG is proposed, just not us but even our father and their ancestors have taken care of this motherland and the trees present here,” he said.
Shivolkar further said that the villagers totally disagree with the action of murder of innocent trees and biodiversity.
“The area has devotional sentiments and under possession of Scheduled Tribe community, where Vaghera Temple and pond is present which is again a devotional place of ST people,” he said.
He said the plateau is charging source of ground water for all the perennial sources of water that is springs, wells and ponds, there are total 8 in numbers.
“Whenever we say tree or a jungle we need to understand that all the birds and animals rely on them, and also not to forget our so called precious oxygen too is made freely available by them. IIT Goa is very much needed for the development but on the cost of environment is not at all advisable,” he said.
He added that with a firm step towards Vrukshabandhan, the villagers would like to present in front of this government that they are totally and completely connected with this habitat, this greenary, this jungle and won’t let anyone to destroy this.
“We also request government to kindly take our words in consideration and think over it again and take this project some other place in Goa wherein no jungle is affected like Betul which is totally rocky,” he said.
