Greens condemn felling of trees to make way for GTDC project at Colva

Corporation MD vows to plant 10 times more trees to make good for FEW that were felled

| JANUARY 15, 2020, 02:57 AM IST
Greens condemn felling of trees to make way for GTDC project at Colva

the goan I network

MARGAO

As the Goa Tourism Development Corporation’s axe fell on a couple of coconut trees to make way for the tourism project at the iconic 

Colva beach on Tuesday, activists and environmentalists raised questions asking why the trees were not spared while executing the development.   

GTDC managing director Nikhil Desai was quick to cap the row saying that the coconut trees have been felled to make way for a tourism project, including changing rooms, besides renovation and upgradation of the children’s park. 

Saying that only a couple of trees have been felled, Desai promised that the GTDC will plant 10 times more trees in the Children’s Park to make good for the couple of trees cut down by the contractor to execute the project.   

As news of the felling of the coconut trees, standing tall in the children’s park facing the sea, started doing rounds on the social media, social activist Judith Almeida slammed the authorities for trying to remove the green cover from the beach. 

“They could have spared the trees while executing the development. It takes years for the trees to grow and by axing them, the tourism department has cleared the trees from the Children’s park,” Judith said.   

The activist called upon the deputy Tourism Director, South and later officials of the department of Science and Technology, before realization dawned that the work was being executed by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation.   

Tourism Director Menino D’Souza said the work of developing the area has been taken up by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation, adding that the trees have been cut down with the permission of the Forest department. 

“The GTDC is executing the tourism development at Colva, including the re-development of the Children’s park and installing amenities such as changing rooms etc,” he said.   

Capping the row, Desai has said the coconut trees have been felled to provide better amenities at the park.   

He said the GTDC has resolved to plant 10 times more trees in the Children’s Park to make good for the trees cut down by the contractor.   

Shedding light on the row over the felling of the coconut trees at the Colva Children’s Park, the Desai pointed out that the only those trees required to be removed have been cut down with the permission of the Forest department.   

He, however, hastened to add that though the Forest department had certain norms on planting of trees to replace those cut down, the GTDC will plant 10 time more trees to add greenery and beauty to the place. 

“We have taken care to see that only those which were required to make way for the Colva tourism project, including changing rooms, toilets and re-development of the Children’s park have been cut down. And, we will plant the trees during the monsoons,” he added.  

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