Mobile Police Patlabor 08 - "Elusive Green"

Asuma, Hiromi, and Noa are sent by Captain Goto to the village of Onifuri to investigate possible sabotage in the construction of a new highway. They soon discover that there is apparently a sacred tree in the way of the highway that will have to cut down. Villagers say that the demons are protecting the tree and they will be cursed if they move it, but Asuma suspects Labors are involved. Is it just a scam by the land owner to get the government to buy more land off him and forcing them to build the highway around the tree, or is there something more to this curse?