Tree trimming snaps power, phone cables at SaligaoTNN | Jun 7, 2014, 12.52 AM IST
READ MORE Tree trimming <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Tree-trimming>|Saligao <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Saligao>|power <http://www.speakingtree.in/topics/emotions/power>|phone cables <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/phone-cables> PANAJI: Trimming of two decades-old trees for road widening and excavation to lay a footpath near the Chogm junction in Saligao has irked some residents, as the digging activity snapped power and telephone cables. While power supply was restored in the affected areas, telephones in parts of the village may be non-functional for a day or two. But some residents were more disappointed by the trimming of trees, apparently before felling to pave way for broadening of the circle. A major plan to widen roads in the tourism belt of Calangute, Arpora right up to Porvorim is showing good results, as local residents have noticed a let-up in traffic congestion, though at the cost of cultivable land and green cover. The two trees were trimmed on Saligao-Mapusa road, but villagers said widening the road for just 20 to 30 metres is illogical. "A bottle-neck of existing houses and compounds a little ahead will always remain. So what is the purpose of destroying the trees, a day after environment day for limited widening of the road," a villager complained. Road widening in open spaces and eating minimally into paddy fields would have been a better option. "The broadening of roads can be done in the fields, but at Chogm junction where it will serve no purpose it should be avoided to spare trees, which took half a century to grow," the villager said. Agreed Ashley Delaney, another villager,"The footpath could have been laid in the field beyond the trees to save them," he said. But villagers are confused why the trees are being cut, as the plans have not been shown to the panchayat. The issue figured at the gram sabha and panchayat members denied any knowledge of plans being submitted at panchayat level. Tourism minister and local MLA Dilip Parulekar could not be contacted but sources said the road widening exercise will be followed by planting of trees and adequate greening process. -- -- Saligao-Net is at http://groups.google.com/group/saligao-net To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe email [email protected] --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Saligao-Net" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
