Nuvem residents oppose felling of 50 trees for highway expansion

Staff Reporter

Margao

Residents of Nuvem on Thursday urged the South Goa district Collector and the Deputy Conservator of Forests to deny permission to the Public Works Department (PWD) for cutting 50 trees along the National Highway 66, citing their critical role in the village ecosystem.

Residents said that the trees, which have stood for over 35 years, are vital to Nuvem’s ecological balance, and their removal would cause irreversible damage. “Enhancements to this specific stretch can be implemented without expanding the highway,” they said.

“The residents have already voiced their opposition to the highway expansion. It has come to our attention that the PWD is seeking approval to cut down 50 trees for this purpose, which we believe is unwarranted. It appears the minister is leveraging his authority to push through this project despite the majority of traffic having shifted to the Western Bypass. We have collectively petitioned the authorities to reject the PWD’s request,” said resident Everson Vales, warning of the environmental consequences.

Their appeal follows a statement by local MLA and Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira, who said the trees would be cut for the highway expansion. Sequeira had also stated that the government had previously acquired the land and compensated the landowner, giving it the right to use the land as needed.

South Goa MP Viriato Fernandes also condemned the move, alleging that the government was pushing the expansion to utilise allocated funds. “I fail to understand why the Nuvem MLA and Environment Minister Sequeira is imposing this project on residents against their wishes. The government ignored this stretch when expansion was actually needed. Now that the Western Bypass is operational, the minister suddenly wants to expand the highway,” he said, warning PWD engineers of potential consequences for seeking permission to cut the trees.