PANAJI: Minister for forests and town and country planning (TCP), Vishwajit Rane, on Friday said a police complaint has been filed after the tenant association of the local comunidade “was found to be responsible” for destruction of 29 mangrove trees at Merces.
“The SDFO and Panaji Range staff inspected the site after receiving a report from the additional principal chief conservator of forests. The land belonged to the comunidade and the offence is committed by their tenant association. Twenty-nine mangrove trees were destroyed, an offence has been booked for violation of the Goa Preservation of Trees Act, 1984, with a notice issued to the land owners,” Rane said in a tweet. “Stern action is the need of the hour, as mangroves need to be protected at all costs.”
