Panaji: The Bombay High Court on Thursday stayed the felling of 80 trees for highway widening between Cortalim and Margao. The court pulled up the tree officer for permitting the removal of 422 trees "without reasoning" and for lacking a proper study.
Court Orders Status Quo and Forms Committee
A division bench of Justices Valmiki Menezes and Hiten Venegavkar directed the PWD (highways) executive engineer to maintain status quo. The court appointed a three-member committee to begin a joint inspection from Friday to assess how many trees can be saved through translocation. The panel will also examine 55 trees proposed for relocation and suggest methodology and sites.
Committee Composition
The committee comprises Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Ramesh Kumar, Goa Biodiversity Board Member Secretary Pradip Sarmokadam, and ICAR Senior Scientist (Agro Forestry) Uthappa AR. They will carry out the joint inspection.
Tree Officer's Permission Criticized
Advocate General Devidas Pangam informed the court that of the 422 trees approved for felling, 342 have already been cut, leaving 80 remaining. He also noted that 55 trees are marked for translocation.
In its interim order, the HC stated that the tree officer's permission was "completely devoid of reasoning." The court observed that none of the reports recommended felling; instead, they suggested an independent assessment to maximize translocation. "Prima facie, the record does not disclose the basis for allowing felling of 422 trees while permitting translocation of only 55," the bench remarked.
Procedural Gaps Highlighted
The court found no material to show that the tree officer inspected the 477 trees, evaluated alternative replanting sites, or considered species and distribution for replantation. It also noted the absence of expert opinion prior to granting permission. The inspection report suggested that all trees were assessed in a single day on April 26, 2025.
The court said both the tree officer's order and the highway authority's records were silent on species-wise replantation and site assessment, underscoring procedural gaps in the clearance process.
