MARGAO: There have been mixed reactions to the speech made by President of India Droupadi Murmu at the Raj Bhavan in Goa, where she highlighted the importance of protecting forests.
The President said that rich forest cover is a priceless natural asset of Goa and it should be conserved. “The dense forests of the Western Ghats are the natural habitat of many wild animals. Preservation of this natural heritage would give impetus to the sustainable development of Goa,” said Murmu, emphasising
that tribal and other forest dwellers should be made partners in development, while preserving their traditions.
While a majority of the public and key stakeholders welcomed her statement, there were many who strongly felt that the President needs to take a closer look at what the Central and State governments have been doing. Ironically, various steps taken by the government have had a
detrimental effect on Goa’s forests and those dependent on it - contrary to the message given by the President.
“The government is refusing to even acknowledge half of our forests, and the President has hastily given assent to an amendment to the Forest (Conservation) Act (FCA) that directly spells doom for half of Goa’s forests, since they have no protection. The government has also done everything to prevent community forest rights being recognised in Goa, making the Forest Rights Act a total failure,” said Abhijit Prabhudesai, founder of Rainbow Warriors (RW).
Prabhudesai had recently been part of a State-wide agitation opposing the amendments to the FCA as well the three linear projects that threaten the Western Ghats. Goa Foundation (GF) Director Claude Alvares however was more pleased with what the President had said.
“As President and as a tribal person, she speaks with her whole heart and says some very remarkable things. She does not speak from a prepared speech sent to her office by the Prime Minister’s Office. Earlier too, she has spoken about the tribal communities and so on. So, her statement on conserving forests is to be really applauded, because when anybody comes to Goa, the first thing that attracts them is the green coverage of the State,” said Alvares.
“If you look at battles of Melaulim, the battle of Pomburpa which is developing now; all these issues are related to ordinary village people taking up the cudgels to protect their village forests. I think what the President has said is a great shot in the arm of all these activists who are fighting for the protection of forests in the State of Goa and for that I think her visit to Goa was well worth it in every sense of it,” Alvares concluded.
Others like Adv Savio Correia added that the President’s message should be followed.
“The President’s statement must serve as a beacon for our Central and State Governments. The forests are the primary source of livelihood for millions of tribal communities and forest dwellers, and their protection would not only ensure conservation of the environment but ensure livelihood protection of its dependents,” said Correia.
“We welcome the statement of the first citizen of India, in the context of saving our forest cover and protecting the rights of the indigenous communities which have lived and thrived alongside their natural habitat in perfect harmony since the beginning of time,” said Orville Dourado Rodrigues, founder of Goencho Ekvott.
Activists slam Goa govt’s move to challenge HC’s Tiger Reserve order in Supreme Court
PANJIM: The opposition Congress party and the ‘Save Mhadei, Save Goa’ Front on Thursday strongly condemned the State government’s move to challenge before the Supreme Court, the High Court order to notify the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve, by spending taxpayers money.
“Goa government is opposing the Tiger Reserve. This is against Goa’s interest. Only land sharks from outside the State are hurt by this order and the Goa government is working as their agent,” Congress leader Elvis Gomes said.
He added that the State is undergoing rapid transformation as the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department is on a rampage to destroy Goa’s land resources.
Save Mhadei, Save Goa Front convenor Rajan Ghate said, “The Tiger Reserve is the master key to protect Mhadei and Goa. The Goa government has no right to spend Rs 66 lakh of the public exchequer’s money per hearing, to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court. It is the bounden duty of the Goa government to immediately declare the Tiger Reserve as per the HC order.”
Referring to Union Minister Prahlad Joshi’s recent statement that Tiger Reserve is an obstacle to Karnataka’s project in Mhadei river basin, Ghate demanded that the State government should immediately notify the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve.
Their appeal to the government includes a proposal to segregate areas of human habitation, agriculture, and gardening into a buffer zone (around 700 sq km). Pristine and untouched regions would form the core zone (400 sq km). Additionally, the activists are advocating for a judicial probe into the devastating forest fires.
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As President and as a tribal person, she speaks with her whole heart and says some very remarkable things. She does not speak from a prepared speech sent to her office by the Prime Minister’s Office. So, her statement on conserving forests is to be really applauded. Goa Foundation and all the environmental groups are doing precisely what she wants and we are very happy to count her as one of the supporters of this type of action
Claude Alvares, Goa Foundation
The indigenous residents of our Western Ghats at Sanguem, Sattari, Bicholim, Ponda, Canacona, Dharbandora have been robbed of all their rights and made servile by an openly anti-people and anti-environment govt. The three linear projects through our wildlife sanctuaries, the hatred for our tigers and forests displayed openly, and police violence against local communities defending the environment are in contempt of our President’s thoughts
Abhijit Prabhudesai, Rainbow Warriors
The conflict between man and nature has only arisen in recent times to satiate the unfettered greed of some politicians egged on by businessmen. We would be happy if our President also takes a stand vis a vis the creation of the meaningless coal hub which will obliterate what this tiny paradise on Earth, Goa, is known for
Orville Dourado Rodrigues, Goencho Ekvott