Mollem, Goa:
A major controversy has erupted in Mollem after allegations surfaced that large-scale tree cutting has been carried out on Survey No. 24 by a company identified as Agarwal, reportedly in preparation for a major project.

Sources claim that hundreds of trees may have been felled without obtaining mandatory permissions, raising serious questions about environmental compliance and regulatory oversight in the area.

Officials from the Forest Department stated that they became aware of the incident only later and have since initiated action. An inquiry has been launched, with officials confirming illegal cutting of at least 9 trees so far. However, they admitted that they currently do not have precise data on the total number of trees cut, indicating possible gaps in monitoring and enforcement.

When contacted, the Mollem Panchayat Sarpanch expressed ignorance about any such large-scale activity. He clarified that the Panchayat had only received an application related to water and electricity connections for the said land and was unaware of any tree felling operations.

The incident has triggered serious concerns over administrative negligence, with questions being raised about how large-scale deforestation could occur without timely intervention by authorities.

According to sources, the project proposed at the site is believed to be linked to solar power generation, further intensifying the debate over balancing development and environmental protection.

The matter is expected to draw closer scrutiny as the inquiry progresses and more details emerge.