MELENDUGNO-- On Wednesday night the police bulldozed barricades erected by the NO TAP protestors after the sentence from the Lazio Administrative Court gave the green light for the continuation of works on the gas pipeline.

 The barricades were blocking traffic flow in the areas of San Basilio, San Foca and Marina in Melendugno, stopping the 11 remaining olive trees being removed from the area. Residents held constant vigil in the area- around 50 were present when the police demolished the barricades, but were unable to stop them.

 The olive trees needed to be moved as a matter of urgency before April 30, otherwise there was a risk that they would dry out, or they wouldn’t be able to be moved until November.

 The trees were removed without incident, allowing the works on the gas pipeline to continue as planned.

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