FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: Goa Forward Party chief and Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai in a letter to UNESCO World Heritage Center, Paris and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) World Heritage Programme, Switzerland has said, “The three linear projects planned in the State cut through the entire width of Goa’s tiger habitat, and in view of the importance of this tiger reserve for the ultimate survival of India’s national animal and hence none of these projects should be allowed.
In the letter, Sardesai pointed out that the biodiversity of the Mollem forest is higher than reported values for several Indian forests, and that out of 133 species recorded, 18 species were given special status according to the Wild Life Protection Act 1972.
The letter states that five new species have been recently discovered and three endangered species are found here, and in addition to the natural habitat of the area, the Mollem region is also home to several important Hindu temples dating back to the historic Kadamba era of Goa, and home to Goa’s iconic Dudhsagar and Tambdi Falls.
The GFP chief also highlighted that studies, surveys and analysis point out that the existing rail track and highway are currently under-utilized, and any expansion to the highway, or rail track would serve no development purpose.
Further he suggested that “the linear projects are established to increase coal transportation through Goa as private corporations have sought to expand their coal operations within the state.”
Sardesai said he wrote the letter to represent the voice of all Goans especially Goa’s youth who look to Save Mollem.
At the press conference, Sardesai said, “this letter hopes to raise UNESCO’s and IUCN’s attention to the unconscionable decisions of the state government - that is why we have to take it to an international forum to seek intervention from the authorities designated to protect our vulnerable environment.”
Sardesai’s letter concludes by stating that “the people’s concerns remain that the government of Goa would ignore our petition and move ahead with development of the projects at the UNESCO WHC site. Therefore, I urge you UNESCO, and IUCN, to #SaveMollem – save our environment, our biodiversity, our natural heritage and our future.”
