PANJIM: A series of documents, in possession of HERALD, clearly reveals that right from Union Ministry of Environment and Forest to the National Tiger Conservation Authority has mooted a proposal for the constitution of a new tiger reserve in Goa, which is a part of the Western Ghats.
Document 1: Then State Conservator of Forest MK Shambhu 2016, directed the Deputy Conservator of Forest to demarcate the continuous forested habitat of our Protected Areas in the Western Ghats excluding the Human habitation/villages which can form the core of a future Tiger Reserve in Goa and prepare a map in a time-bound manner by June, that year.
Document 2: In June 2011 after Goa reported the first case of tiger killing in 2009, then Union Minister for Environment, Forest Jairam Ramesh, wrote the to ex-Chief Minister Digambar Kamat requesting to move a proposal to declare Mhadei wildlife sanctuary a tiger reserve in the State.
Jairam Ramesh wrote to Digambar Kamat “There is evidence to show that tigers in Goa are not merely transient animals but are a resident population as well. Mhadei is a contiguous tiger landscape to Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka to its south-east and to Anshi Dandeli Tiger Reserve to its south which has around 35 tigers.”
Pointing to the study carried out in 2008 by the Wildlife Institute of India, Ramesh said that the protected areas of Goa and their contiguous forests in Karnataka and Maharashtra are possibly some of the best potential tiger habitats in the Western Ghats region and they are in need of protection. While urging the Government to submit a proposal quickly, Ramesh said that the State can also consider expanding the tiger reserve beyond the existing Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
Document 3: As the State failed to take any steps in the direction, the National Tiger Conservation Authority in March 2016, wrote to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest to constitute a new tiger reserve in the State.
In their communication, Inspector General of Forest Dr HS Negi said that as per the NTCA exercise Cotigao-Mhadei Forest Complex has recorded tiger presence meaning thereby having the potential to head tiger population. This forest complex comprises protected areas covering an area of about 750 sq. Mts has contiguity with the Kali Tiger Reserve and Bhimgad Wildlife Sanctuary of Karnataka and other protected areas of Maharashtra state.
“In view of the above, it would be in the fitness of things to notify the said area as a tiger reserve. This would enable us to provide central assistance to the state to upgrade the protection status of the said landscape under the ongoing Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Project Tiger (CSS-PT) besides fostering the existence agenda with local people in the peripheral buffer area,” the authority said.
Negi directed that a proposal may be sent to the Authority from the State Government as required under Section 38 (v) of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 to enable us to take further steps in this matter.
