Goa, Oct. 18 -- A controversy erupted in Surla on Sunday after the scheduled inspection into alleged illegal tree felling was halted on the orders of the Deputy District Collector. The issue of large-scale tree cutting in Surla Panchayat has been ongoing for the past few months, with local biodiversity organizations, environmentalists, and villagers repeatedly voicing concern.

The villagers, along with a biodiversity group, had earlier demanded that the Panchayat investigate the matter through a Gram Sabha. However, as per directions from the Deputy District Collector of Bicholim, the Panchayat was instructed not to take the tree-felling issue into its own hands, stating that the District Collector is already handling the investigation a...