Locals stop tree cutting at Penha da Franca

PANAJI: A group of villagers stopped a property owner from cutting a tree on the riverside in Penha da Franca, alleging that the permit granted by the forest department had expired a few days back.
The workers had brought down a tamarind tree on Wednesday morning, but before the second one, a teak tree could be felled, they gathered at the site and raised objections to the activity."The problem was with the validity of the permit to fell the two trees," Agnel Pereira, president of Penha da Franca citizens forum said. The forest department had issued approval for felling two trees on January 15. "As the work had to be done within 45 days, the permit had become invalid," Pereira said.
The villagers called the Porvorim police, who rushed to the site and stopped the felling of the second tree. The forest department officials and some panch members also inspected the site.
A police source said the contractor assigned the work had not realized the issue about the validity of the permit. "He showed the documents, which he had submitted to the panchayat and the permit issued by the forest department," the source said.
Sources said the trees were sought to be felled as they pose a threat to the nearby dwelling. But a villager said that they are being cleared for better access to the jetty on the riverfront.