PANJIM: The Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has not received any proposal from Goa to notify Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve so far, the Lok Sabha was told in a written reply in response to the question tabled by South Goa Congress MP Capt Viriato Fernandes, on Monday.
NO PROPOSAL HAS BEEN RECEIVED SO FAR FROM THE STATE OF GOA TO NOTIFY MHADEI WILDLIFE SANCTUARY AS TIGER RESERVE, said Minister of State for Environment, Kirti Vardhan Singh.
Based on suitable habitat for tigers and their prey base, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) or the Central government communicates to the State governments/Union Territories (UTs) to consider submission of proposals for declaring a Tiger Reserve,the Minister said.
On July 24 last year, the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court directed the Goa government to declare the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding areas as a Tiger Reserve, in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the local NGO Goa Foundation.
However, the Goa government challenged the High Court order before the Supreme Court on September 25, 2023. But it refused to grant a stay and had issued notices to the Goa Foundation, MoEF&CC and the NTCA.
On June 13 this year, while hearing a miscellaneous civil application filed by the Goa Foundation, Advocate General Devidas Pangam told the High Court that the State government was in the process of complying with the clause (vi) of the judgment and order for determining and settling the rights and claims of the Scheduled Tribes and other forest dwellers following the law as expeditiously as possible within 12 months from the date of the judgment and order notifying Tiger Reserve.
The Advocate General said that the clause (vi) of the order was not a subject matter of challenge before the Supreme Court and that every possible endeavour is being made to comply with the directions before the outer limit prescribed.
Further, as per the High Court directives, the government had already set up eight additional anti-poaching camps at strategic locations staffed by forest guards, watchers, etc, in the Wildlife Sanctuary and National Parks in Goa, the Advocate General said.
The High Court has now posted the matter for further hearing on July 30.
Projects thrust upon Goa without taking people into confidence: Viriato in Lok Sabha
PANJIM: South Goa MP Capt Viriato Fernandes on Monday said in the Lok Sabha that projects were being thrust upon Goa without taking people of the State into confidence.
“Don’t convert Goa into a coal hub as it would destroy tourism in Goa,” Capt Fernandes said while delivering his maiden speech in Parliament.
Stating that Goa is a paradise on earth, Capt Fernandes said, “In the last few years we have been seeing a conspiracy with projects that are being thrust upon Goa. In 2016 they took our six rivers in the name of nationalisation. Thereafter during Covid-19 pandemic they brought three linear projects — double tracking, expansion of highways and Tamnar transmission, for which we have documentary proof that this is to bring coal and convert Goa a coal hub.”
Capt Fernandes said that after liberation, tourism is the only
organised sector remaining in the State after mining activity was
halted in 2012. He said that the agriculture department was not doing that well though efforts by private players and youth to revive agriculture.
He said the only organised sector that is giving jobs and employment to the people of Goa is tourism. Converting Goa into a coal hub will destroy Goa completely, he warned.
No proposal from Goa to notify Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve: Union Environment Ministry
PANJIM: The Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has not received any proposal from Goa to notify Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve so far, the Lok Sabha was told in a written reply in response to the question tabled by South Goa Congress MP Capt Viriato Fernandes, on Monday.
On the basis of suitable habitat for tigers and their prey base, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) or Central government communicates to the State governments/Union Territories (UTs) for considering submission of proposals for declaring a Tiger Reserve, the Minister of State for MoEF&CC Kirti Vardhan stated in his reply.
On a question as to whether the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had accorded any proposal for creation of a new Tiger Reserve in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, the Minister said that it does not arise.
On July 24 last year, the Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court had directed the Goa government to declare the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding areas as a Tiger Reserve, in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the local NGO Goa Foundation.
However, the Goa government challenged the High Court order before theSupreme Court on September 25, 2023. But it refused to grant a stay and had issued notices to the Goa Foundation, MoEF&CC and the NTCA.
In June 13 this year, while hearing a miscellaneous civil application filed by the Goa Foundation, Advocate General Devidas Pangam had told the High Court that the State government was in the process of complying with the clause (vi) of the judgment and order for determining and settling the rights and claims of the Scheduled Tribes and other forest dwellers following the law as expeditiously as possible within 12 months from the date of the judgment and order notifying Tiger Reserve.
The Advocate General said that the clause (vi) of the order was not a subject matter of challenge before the Supreme Court and that every possible endeavour is being made to comply with the directions before the outer limit prescribed.
Further as per the High Court directives, the government had already set up eight additional anti-poaching camps at strategic locations staffed by forest guards, watchers, etc, in the Wildlife Sanctuary and National Parks in Goa, the Advocate General said.
The High Court has now posted the matter for further hearing on July 30.
