PANJIM: The Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has constituted a team to ‘cause enquiry in connection with the tiger killing reported in the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary’.
Deputy Inspector General of Forests, Nishant Verma, in an office memorandum issued on Wednesday announced the formation of the committee to inquiry into the instances of deaths of tigers in the sanctuary, near Golavali village.
The two-member committee comprises National Tiger Conservation Authority Regional Officer Bengaluru, Rajendra Garawade and Regional Deputy Director of Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, Mumbai.
As per the office memorandum, the committee will inquire into the cause of tiger death in this case and investigate the response/action taken by the State forest authorities.
The committee will also suggest further legal course of action as per provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and as mandated under Standard Operating Procedure of National Tiger Conservation Authority dealing with tiger deaths. The team has been asked to submit its report within seven days.
In a tweet, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said the tiger deaths are shocking and saddening. “We will investigate and take stern action against the perpetrators,” he tweeted.
Sawant added that the State authorities are working round the clock, and three arrests have been made in this connection. “Also, Union Ministry has constituted a committee to investigate the matter,” he tweeted.
Port Minister Michael Lobo called it a ‘black day in the history of Goa’. “Humans cannot become animals. Those involved should not be spared and be penalised with 20 years imprisonment,” he demanded.
