Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Jun 25: The Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court has permitted the felling of 60 trees and directed the translocation of 193 trees, shrubs and young plants affected by an ongoing national highway expansion project, based on recommendations submitted by a Special Committee appointed by the court.

A division bench comprising Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Hiten S. Venegavkar accepted the committee's report and directed the Executive Engineer, PWD (National Highways), to initiate the translocation process through a specialised agency with proven expertise in relocating trees.

Of the 80 trees originally marked for felling, the committee recommended that 20 be relocated instead. These will be added to 53 trees already identified for translocation after two of the 55 previously selected trees were found dead. The panel also recommended shifting 120 shrubs and young trees found along the highway stretch.

The court directed the PWD to appoint a suitable agency within two months and submit a report detailing the methodology proposed for the translocation process.

"The recommendations made by the committee regarding translocation, replanting locations and related measures shall be taken into consideration by the PWD and the agencies appointed for the work," the bench observed.

According to the committee's 15-page report submitted to the court, a 4,042.79-square-metre open plot at Survey Nos. 95/1 and 96 in Mercurim village has been identified as suitable land for the translocated trees and plants.

The committee recommended translocation after assessing factors such as native species status, feasibility, survival potential, age and girth of trees, and available literature on successful translocation efforts in India.

Among the 20 additional trees identified for relocation are coconut, wild guava, badam, drumstick, cluster fig and freshwater mangrove species located in Cortalim, Nagoa and Verna villages.

The panel also noted that earlier recommendations by the Forest Department and Goa State Biodiversity Board had ruled out the translocation of certain trees due to soil and site-related limitations.

To improve survival rates, the committee advised the PWD to follow standard translocation protocols and monitor the transplanted trees and shrubs for at least five years. It also recommended the formulation of Goa-specific guidelines for tree translocation in consultation with relevant departments and experts.

The matter arose during hearings of a public interest litigation concerning the highway expansion project. Petitioners had argued that previous tree translocation efforts undertaken during a highway widening project in Porvorim had largely failed.

Environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar expressed reservations over large-scale tree translocation, claiming that only a handful of trees survived earlier attempts. He suggested that compensatory plantation using indigenous species could be a more practical alternative.

"If trees are cut, authorities should plant the same native species rather than exotic varieties," Kerkar said, emphasising the ecological and social benefits of indigenous trees along highways.