Colvale, a beautiful, quiet village in north Goa has been my homefor
over two decades now. At the entrance to Colvale is a group of mango
trees that form an archway of sorts. This wonderful welcoming canopy of
200-year-old trees is what greets visitors to the village.
Now, these heritage trees are under threat and will be axed as part of a
highway expansion project.
Join my campaign and say no to the highway cutting through Colvale.
<https://members.jhatkaa.org/clicks/link/2213/6d354211-3cae-417c-9bc6-c0ff8ce3ad92?url=https%3A%2F%2Fact.airalert.in%2Fpetitions%2Fsave-goa-s-200-year-old-trees-say-no-highway-through-colvale%3Fbucket%3Dmailing_2213-email-Goahighway%26utm_source%3D%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3Dblast2019-02-21&member_guid=d66eb24298879aca1822949a738fec4cd3fe2baf06fbdd127a838a1ce812d5cb9e57d10c6a01c8b59386f5d281f4133011dc2645df252968da37ba8e93a00a07>
<https://members.jhatkaa.org/clicks/link/2213/6d354211-3cae-417c-9bc6-c0ff8ce3ad92?url=https%3A%2F%2Fact.airalert.in%2Fpetitions%2Fsave-goa-s-200-year-old-trees-say-no-highway-through-colvale%3Futm_source%3D%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3Dblast2019-02-21&member_guid=d66eb24298879aca1822949a738fec4cd3fe2baf06fbdd127a838a1ce812d5cb9e57d10c6a01c8b59386f5d281f4133011dc2645df252968da37ba8e93a00a07>In
fact, the Public Works Department (PWD) has listed over 3,500 trees that
will be hacked for the highway expansion work being carried out from
Patradevi to Karaswada.^1 And if this is not infuriating enough, a
century-old chapel will also be demolished as part of the project.^2 St
Anthony’s Chapel is a prominent place of worship for us Colvalkars and
we also hold Novenas there.
We must come together to ensure we protect the heritage of our beautiful
village, and not allow such violations in the name of “development.”
<https://members.jhatkaa.org/clicks/link/2213/6d354211-3cae-417c-9bc6-c0ff8ce3ad92?url=https%3A%2F%2Fact.airalert.in%2Fpetitions%2Fsave-goa-s-200-year-old-trees-say-no-highway-through-colvale%3Fbucket%3Dmailing_2213-email-Goahighway%26utm_source%3D%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3Dblast2019-02-21&member_guid=d66eb24298879aca1822949a738fec4cd3fe2baf06fbdd127a838a1ce812d5cb9e57d10c6a01c8b59386f5d281f4133011dc2645df252968da37ba8e93a00a07>
Back in the 90s, a similar highway project was announced for which these
mango trees were to be felled. My father and I fought tooth-and-nail and
managed to convince the authorities to get the highway to go around the
trees.Now, the fate of our village rests in the PWD and state
Government’s hands. From a chapel to the trees, we have been left in the
dark. Doesn’t the Forest Department care for old trees?
Gerard, I need the help of citizens like you in ensuring that our
precious trees are preserved. If thousands of us sign this petition, we
can save our heritage -- that truly makes Goa our sunshine state.
<https://members.jhatkaa.org/clicks/link/2213/6d354211-3cae-417c-9bc6-c0ff8ce3ad92?url=https%3A%2F%2Fact.airalert.in%2Fpetitions%2Fsave-goa-s-200-year-old-trees-say-no-highway-through-colvale%3Fbucket%3Dmailing_2213-email-Goahighway%26utm_source%3D%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3Dblast2019-02-21&member_guid=d66eb24298879aca1822949a738fec4cd3fe2baf06fbdd127a838a1ce812d5cb9e57d10c6a01c8b59386f5d281f4133011dc2645df252968da37ba8e93a00a07>
<https://members.jhatkaa.org/clicks/link/2213/6d354211-3cae-417c-9bc6-c0ff8ce3ad92?url=https%3A%2F%2Fact.airalert.in%2Fpetitions%2Fsave-goa-s-200-year-old-trees-say-no-highway-through-colvale%3Futm_source%3D%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3Dblast2019-02-21&member_guid=d66eb24298879aca1822949a738fec4cd3fe2baf06fbdd127a838a1ce812d5cb9e57d10c6a01c8b59386f5d281f4133011dc2645df252968da37ba8e93a00a07>With
hope,
Wendell Rodricks
Sources
1. 3577 trees to come under axe for Patradevi to Bambolim highway
expansion
<https://members.jhatkaa.org/clicks/link/2213/6d354211-3cae-417c-9bc6-c0ff8ce3ad92?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftimesofindia.indiatimes.com%2Fcity%2Fgoa%2F3577-trees-to-come-under-axe-for-patradevi-to-bambolim-highway-expansion%2Farticleshow%2F68040208.cms%3Futm_source%3D%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3Dblast2019-02-21&member_guid=d66eb24298879aca1822949a738fec4cd3fe2baf06fbdd127a838a1ce812d5cb9e57d10c6a01c8b59386f5d281f4133011dc2645df252968da37ba8e93a00a07>
- The Times of India
2. Century-old chapel under threat at Colvale
<https://members.jhatkaa.org/clicks/link/2213/6d354211-3cae-417c-9bc6-c0ff8ce3ad92?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldgoa.in%2FGoa%2FCenturyold-chapel-under-threat-at-Colvale%2F142409.html%3Futm_source%3D%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3Dblast2019-02-21&member_guid=d66eb24298879aca1822949a738fec4cd3fe2baf06fbdd127a838a1ce812d5cb9e57d10c6a01c8b59386f5d281f4133011dc2645df252968da37ba8e93a00a07>
- Herald Goa
