The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday directed the State government to stop all construction work on eco-tourism projects both at Surla in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and at Collem in Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary.
The High Court directives came in view of the Supreme Court’s order on September 8 directing the state government to maintain status quo in the areas which are directed to be notified as a Tiger Reserve by the High Court. The High Court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) writ petition filed by the NGO Goa Foundation praying to stay works carried out at Collem within the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary. The High Court told the State government and other authorities that the Supreme Court had ordered to maintain status quo regarding the eco-tourism projects in the Wildlife Sanctuary. It was the State government which filed the Special Leave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court, the High Court said and directed the State government to stop all works.
During the hearing, the Court was informed that at Collem 50 per cent work of the eco-tourism project had been completed barring only some old works. However, the petitioner produced a work order worth Rs 1 crore at Collem. The High Court had earlier issued notice to the State government and the MoEF&CC after the petitioner challenged the permissions, approvals and work orders issued for the construction of a Rs 8 crore tourist resort on the Surla Plateau, within the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, which falls within the core area of a proposed Tiger Reserve