News Articles

MMC’s duplicity in felling Ashoka tree for a hoarding exposed

HERALD
APRIL 23,2010
The best way to stifle any debate on a controversial issue is to allow the file pertaining to the topic to go “missing” and this is exactly what the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) has done.

The MMC’s duplicity in felling an Ashoka tree to make way for a hoarding was exposed on Friday when the file pertaining to cutting of the tree and issuing of license has gone missing from the council. This comes barely days after MMC Chief Officer Gopal Parsekar has ordered the removal of the hoarding in a letter on April 20.

It may be recalled that the illegal cutting of an Ashoka tree near the Vasco Railway station about three months ago and the recent license to erect a hoarding on the wall of Colaco building had generated controversy in the port town.

After activists and media took up the issue, the council assured to revoke the license issued to the contractor to erect the hoarding.

At the council meeting on Friday, most of the councillors agreed to revoke the license and ensure that no one is allowed to erect hoarding at the particular building because it proved that the tree was cut down with an intention to accommodate the hoarding.

However, when City Councillor Krishna Salkar alias Daji raised the issue and sought the file pertaining to cutting of the tree and issuing of license, MMC Chairperson Shekhar Khadapkar informed Daji that the file was missing from the council, thereby creating further ground for speculation of involvement of council staff and councillors.

Former MMC chairperson Manesh Arolkar said the incident has given a bad name to the council and the public is under the impression that councillors are also hand in glove for allowing the tree to be cut down and issuing of license.

“Missing of the file has further created ground for speculation that councillors are also involved,” said Arolkar.Former MMC chairperson Kritesh Gaonkar said when the council was aware that the person, who had cut down the tree is the younger brother of a person who has obtained the license, it reflects that either the council staff or councilor is involved.

Councilors Daji, Arolkar, Kritesh Gaonkar, Carlos Almeida, Kashinath Yadav, Rajesh Ghonsekar, Shanti Mandrekar, Rohini Parab and Anita Chopdekar were against the attitude of the council in the entire issue and grilled chairperson Khadapkar for his negligence in the issue and demanded how the file went missing from the council.

“When we were not involved in anything, why we should take the blame? The chairperson should come out clear that being a chairperson, it is his responsibility to clear the air about councillors involvement,” stated the councilors.

The council staff stated that the applicant, who had issued license, was lingering in the council building few days ago, when the peon was on Census duty, the file went missing from the council.

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