Goa Congress to counter government move to 'Palm' off coconut as expendable; Demand coconut to be state tree

PANAJI: Amidst the ongoing controversy on the classification of Coconut tree as "palm" by Goa government, the Congress today said it would introduce a Bill in the state legislative Assembly to counter the move.

"We have decided to introduce ' Goa Protection of Coconut Trees Bill' during the Monsoon session of state Legislative Assembly scheduled to begin in March," Congress MLA Pandurang Madkaikar told reporters.

"The Bill aims to protect and preserve the Coconut trees in Goa, which are threatened after the state government effected an amendment to the Goa, Daman and Diu Preservation of Trees Act, 1984.

"The Bill would classify Coconut as 'tree' and not as 'palm'," he said, adding, the fruit is synonymous with the unique Goan identity, its landscape, culture, cuisine and ethos.

"The tree has also economic and religious significance. It is in this context that Congress-led government had rightly classified the Coconut as 'tree' by introducing an amendment to the Goa, Daman and Diu Preservation of Trees Act in 2008," the legislator said.

"The Congress party is always sensitive on this issue. We also demand that Coconut tree be declared as the State Tree by the government," he said.