PANJIM: The Opposition parties, environmentalists and NGOs have hailed the order of the High Court of Bombay at Goa directing the State government to declare Tiger Reserve in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao and Quepem MLA Altone D’Costa have moved a Congratulatory Motion in the Goa Legislative Assembly congratulating NGO Goa Foundation for its petition in the High Court on which directions were issued to the Goa government to declare Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve.
Leader of the Opposition Yuri Alemao said, “The verdict of the High Court directing the government to notify Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve has come as a major relief for Goans in their efforts to save Mhadei. I humbly appeal to the habitants to accept this verdict in the larger interest of Goa.”
Welcoming the High Court order, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) strongly condemned the BJP-led Goa government’s knee-jerk announcement to challenge the order in the Supreme Court.
The recent ruling by the High Court vindicates AAP’s demand, which was advocated by Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas on the floor of the House in January 2023. Viegas was the lone MLA who raised this critical issue in writing by tabling a private members’ resolution demanding a Tiger Reserve in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
Velim MLA Cruz Silva said that the High Court has given various clear and detailed directions to both — BJP government as well as the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). The High Court order is based strongly on law, and contains clear timelines for the various actions to be taken.
Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira said, “Bleak chances of Goa government succeeding in Supreme Court. Even NTCA and the Central government have supported the petitioner’s case before the High Court that notifying the Tiger reserve is mandatory and not directory and “the State must not delay the notification of the area as a tiger reserve and dispatch the proposal to enable the NTCA to take further steps in the matter.”
He said, “Directions to notify Tiger Reserve much overdue and is a victory for the tiger and victory for wildlife and will go a long way to protect tigers, environment and long time benefit to protect Mhadei.”
Supreme Court lawyer Adv Bhavani Shankar Gadnis said, “Excellent order by the High Court. The order is watertight and there is no scope for appeal. The Supreme Court will not entertain such appeals”
Environmentalist Ramesh Gauns said, “Good order. What is most worrying is that every time activists and environmentalists have to battle in court because our elected government lacks application of mind to takes decision. The government should not spend public money to appeal in SC, instead Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane who has not uttered a word on Mhadei, should use his resources in fighting the battle in apex court. I don’t think the SC will entertain such appeals.”
Environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar said, “It was need of the hour in order to protect the tiger. Right from 1999 Goa government attempted to denotify wildlife sanctuaries but judiciary only interfered and said that not even grass should be lifted from these sanctuaries and this was responsible for halting the mining activity within the sanctuaries. This is a historic judgment for Goa.”
Advocate General Devidas Pangam said, “We have received the copy of the High Court order and we are examining it. It will be appropriate to comment on it only after going through it in detail. Besides the order, the court has also issued several other directions for the purpose of implementation of statutory notifications as well as the provisions of the Wild Life Protection Act when it comes to tiger reserve. After reading the judgment fully we will see if there is any ground for appeal in SC. We are in the process of studying the judgment which is lengthy.”
