PONDA: The Rajiv Kala Mandir at Ponda has been directed not to use ghumat made of monitor lizard skins for its ghumat aarthi contest this year.
The direction has been issued by the deputy conservator of forests on ground that the monitor lizard is a scheduled animal under Wild Life Protection Act, 1972; therefore, using its skin is a cognizable and punishable offence.
The direction also observed that though it is a tradition to use monitor lizard skins in making ghumat, such a practice is in contravention of law. This practice has pushed the monitor lizards to the verge of extinction in the State, the direction pointed out.
Incidentally, the deputy conservator of forests issued the direction following a complaint by RTI activist and animal lover Nishant Sawant.
According to Sawant, monitor lizards helps in maintaining environmental balance. However, this reptile is on the verge of extinction due to massive use of its skins in ghumat. He said that goat skin can produce the same sound like the monitor lizard skins, as such goat skins should be used in making ghumats.
Sawant said that poachers mostly target pregnant female monitor lizards since they cannot run fast to escape from the hunters. “Killing of females is quickening the extinction of this protected animal,” Sawant reasoned out.
Though the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972 is in force for more than 40 years, Sawant said, still the monitor lizards are killed regularly for their skins. “In fact, it is the educated people who encourage competitions using ghumat made of monitor lizard the skins,” the animal activist complained.
He contended that at least at government functions use of ghumats made of monitor lizard skins should be discouraged. “However, since past ten years, the government totally failed to take action against people involved in killing monitor lizards,” he alleged.
He suggested that henceforth Rajiv Kala Mandir should change its rules of competition: it should allow ghumats made of only goat skin for the competitions.
He said that every year around 100 ghumat groups participate in the contest organised by Rajiv Kala Mandir.
“If we take that each group uses at least 10 ghumats made up of monitor lizard skins, it works out to around 1000 ghumats every year; and this is the eleventh year in a row that the Rajiv Kala Mandir is organising this contest. This means, the total number of lizards killed, so far, must have been around 11,000. If this trend continues, the monitor lizards would soon become extinct in Goa,” Sawant explained.
Rajiv Kala Mandir Member Secretary Navnath Naik was not reachable on his phone for his comments on the direction issued by the deputy conservator of forests.
Meanwhile, the preliminary round of ghumat aarthi contest will be held from September 30 to2 October; the final round will be on October 7. At least 39 Ghumat troupes are expected to participate in the contest.
