PANJIM: The Forest Department had written to the Sattari Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) to re-issue proclamation to settle land rights issues of the villagers living inside the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary so as to complete the demarcation of the wildlife areas.
The process of finalising the settlement of rights of villagers living inside the wildlife sanctuary had surfaced following the killing of four tigers including three cubs by the villagers at Golavli village in Sattari Taluka in January 2020.
The four villagers who were arrested for the killing of tigers have already been charge sheeted. The Government of India had notified Mhadei and Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary way back in 1999, when Goa was under brief spell of the President’s Rule. The total area under Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary is 208.48 square kms while the Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary covers area of 211.05 square kms.
As per the Wildlife Protection Act, the issue of settlement of rights had to be finalised by the Revenue Officer-cum-Collector (ROC) within a period of two years.
After the incident of killing of four tigers and the subsequent arrest of the villagers for the killings, the government appointed the Sattari Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) as the ROC for the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
In January this year, the Sattari SDM also issued a proclamation to start the process to finalise the settlement of rights of villagers but the same was later withdrawn after four days following strong opposition by the villagers. There are as many as 36 villages which are falling within the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
Meanwhile, proceedings are going on before the Dharbandora SDM to settle the land rights issues of villagers living inside the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary, Mollem.
