PANAJI: Reservations by South Goa District administration regarding trimming / cutting 135 trees in Margao and Fatorda have raised criticism in several places, because citizens blamed the authorities because they did not conduct an unsafe tree assessment.
South Goa Collector Ruchika Katyal has directed the Main Officer of the Municipal Margao (MMC) Council to carry out trimming / cutting trees wisely, following the footsteps of the destruction left by the Tauktae cyclone in mid-May.
In the direction of the collector, with the provisions of the disaster management law, 2005, Salcete Mamlatdar has prepared a list of trees that are considered dangerous.
But some have raised questions about inspections carried out a few weeks back.
“We have confirmed information that there is no official of the forest department present during inspection.
Thus, we demand that the department must oversee the implementation of cutting / trimming trimming,” Savio Coutinho, Convener, Shadow Council, said Margao.
A former member of the Country Country Biodiversity Board, Antonio Mascarenhas, in a letter to a collector, questioned the need to cut the tree, stated that some trees had a large canopy due to excessive growth, which only needed scientific trimming.
“All trees like that, and in this case all trees around the city, need to be trimmed into the maximum height of say six to eight meters above the ground,” said Mascarenhas, said the former Nio scientist.
The branches trimmed and became thick, with many leaf coverings, because nutrition remained localized.
“Trees become stronger, remain stable, and produce more fruit, if fruit bearings, or produce more interest, if ornaments,” he said.
Experts say even healthy trees collapse during storms and lack of scientific trimming running the country’s green cover during extreme weather and causes massive losses.
“The trees grow towards light and grow tall, but when they are not trimmed, they become a big weight and go down because of strong winds,” said Senior Horticulturis, said Rozendo Mendonca.
The right canopy management after scientific assessment by experts can help maintain tree balance.
“Once in three years, the top heavy branches must be cut vertically to prevent water seepage and fungal infections and sprayed with systemic fungicides,” he said.
While MMC has not received government funds for the work, several trees have been rushed trimmed, raising concerns over non-scientific hacking trees.
“We have proof of photography where the trees listed for trimming have been completely cut or the tree’s neck has just been hacked, leaving some stems standing on the ground,” alleged Coutinho.
Officer MMC Head Agnelo Fernandes said, “The trees have been registered to cut or cut depending on the dangers submitted to the property and human life.”