Team Goemkarponn
PORVORIM: In order to preserve the centuries-old banyan tree at Vadakade, activists have petitioned the authorities to move the flyover’s alignment at Porvorim by at least two or three meters.
The elevated roadway project puts the tree, a well-known landmark, at danger.
Social activist Shankar Phadte voiced his worries, saying, “This so-called development and the construction of the elevated corridor goes against the wishes of the people of Porvorim,” as they continued their struggle to protect the banyan tree. He added that the corridor’s layout plan, which was completed in 2019, has not yet been released to the general public.
“While we are working to protect Goa’s environment, our MLAs seem intent on destroying it,” said Avertino Miranda, Convenor of the Goa Green Brigade, expressing his vehement objection to the proposal.
Everything is being destroyed, including mangroves, hills, sand dunes, trees, and forests. Experts have cautioned that the remaining translocated trees have very little chance of surviving, as four trees have already been felled. Miranda ascribed this to translocation norm violations, which further jeopardize the trees’ chances of surviving.
Miranda further emphasized how susceptible banyan trees are to these kinds of disturbances. After their branches were drastically pruned, the banyan trees are being moved. They are unlikely to live because of this,” he said. The activists have responded by promising to keep up their demonstrations, which will include another candlelight demonstration in an effort to preserve the famous banyan tree.
The activists’ demand that the corridor’s alignment be changed and their dedication to continuing demonstrations draw attention to the region’s escalating conflicts between environmental preservation and development.
