Panaji: A group of local residents from Porvorim have written to Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari requesting a written assurance within 15 days that the ongoing construction of the elevated corridor at Porvorim on National Highway 66 will not result in the demolition of the sacred banyan tree and Khapreshwar Devasthan.
In the letter, locals highlighted the necessity of saving the banyan tree, which has stood for over 200 years, and is an important cultural and religious symbol.
“The tree is particularly revered during Vatta Pournima (thread tying ceremony) annually where thousands of devotees pray for the health and longevity of their husbands. The site is also known as a jagrut devasthan and is considered the protector of the area,” stated the letter.
In their letter, the locals said that despite their repeated requests, they have not received any response from local engineers and officials regarding a change in the project’s alignment to protect these important landmarks.
“A meeting was held on December 10, 2024, when the priest of the devasthan, Karthik Sajo Kudnekar, and a delegation of residents visited New Delhi to meet with Gadkari. During the meeting, the minister reportedly acknowledged the concerns of the people and instructed engineers to redesign the project to save both the tree and the devasthan,” states the letter.
“Other parts of the country, infrastructure development has been successfully carried out while preserving trees. Even in Guwahati and at Connaught Place in Delhi, flyover developments have been carried out by ensuring that maximum number of trees is saved and not destroyed,” the letter states.
Experts consulted by the local community have suggested that it is possible to save the devasthan and tree by redesigning the road alignment.
Meanwhile, many of the trees that were translocated as part of the project are reported to be dying.
