Goa’s coconut grows from ‘grass’ to tree

CRITICS ALLEGE THE DECLASSIFICATION OF THE TREES WAS TO HELP BUSINESSES BY CLEARING LAND FOR COMMERCIAL PROJECTS

The coconut palm tree in Goa is standing tall again, having reclaimed its status as a ‘tree’ a year after the state government downgraded it to ‘grass’.

The state assembly amended the Goa, Daman and Diu (Preservation) of Trees Act, 1984, last week following debates and pressure brought on the BJP-led government to restore the coconut palm’s pride.

“We were committed to make coconut as the state tree as it reflects the uniqueness of the coastal state. It was a complete wrong move to have stripped it of its status of a tree in 2016,” said Vijai Sardesai of Goa Forward Party.

Opposition parties and environmentalists alike had been opposed to the move to declassify the coconut palm as a tree. Critics alleged its declassification was to facilitate businesses to clear land for commercial projects. They said the move will result in “mass massacre of coconut palm trees across the state”.

Sardesai’s Goa Forward Party, now an ally of the BJP government, fought assembly elections earlier this year on the principal issue of restoring the coconut palm’s original status.

The Congress views the reclassification of the coconut palm as a victory of principles. “I am glad better sense prevailed. When you brought the amendment last time round, we said it was not right,” legislator Digambar Kamat reminded the state government last week.

The BJP government is reluctant to talk about its change of heart on the coconut palm’s status. But opponents say its push to facilitate business houses by sacrificing the trees was unpopular and had played a key role in bringing down its tally in the assembly from 21 to 13 seats.