PANJIM: The government will decide on whether it wants to have a tiger reserve or not only after the tiger census is completed by 2017, Forest Minister Alina Saldanha told the State Legislative Assembly, on Thursday.
“The study of tiger presence in the State would go on till 2017. Only then would the State decide on whether to press for a tiger reserve or not,” Alina said Thursday. She said that the government can consider the issue of forest dwellers residing in the Netravali wildlife sanctuary and other protected areas provided a concrete proposal is submitted by the local legislators.
The Minister also announced that the government had formed a committee to identify private forest cover, and the process was on. She said that in order to implement this, an intense management plan had been worked out and would be put in public domain for objection and suggestions.
Alina, was replying to the question tabled by Sanguem MLA Subhash Phal dessai.
“There are certain projects that can be allowed in protected areas. Some relaxation can be granted provided the local MLA submits a concrete proposal for the benefit of the forest dwellers. I assure the House that government will consider the project if it fits into the rules applicable to the protected areas,” Alina said, seeking to address concern raised by Phal dessai, who pointed out that the life of people living in the wildlife sanctuaries and protected areas is being restricted.
The BJP MLA brought to the notice of the House that there are over 400 houses located within the wildlife sanctuary, and they were living with restrictions imposed by government. He said that the relatives of these dwellers are forced to pay entry fees at the gate by the forest officials, when they go to visit them. “Directions would be issued to forest officials not to demand fees from the visitors of these dwellers as well as regular visitors,” the Minister assured.
In yet another question raised by Independent MLA Rohan Khaunte, Alina said that government is currently in the process of identifying private forest cover in the State.
“There is anxiety in the minds of people on whether their land would be declared as private forest. To settle all this issues, we have drafted a management plan, which would be kept in the public domain,” she said.
As per the reply tabled in the House, the total area covered under forest in the State is 2219 sq kms as per the Forest Survey of India report 2011. The geographical percentage of forest via-a-vis the total area of State is 59.94 per cent.
