PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Monday directed the State government to notify the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and other areas referred to in National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)’s communications as a Tiger Reserve under Section 38-V (1) of the Wildlife Protection Act (WLPA) within three months from the date of the order.
However, within no time, Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane has said that the State government will explore all options for vacating the High Court order directing Goa to declare Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and peripheral areas as Tiger Reserve, before approaching the Supreme Court.
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On Tuesday, Team Herald spoke to different MLAs especially from the ruling party to know their views on this order and if they are in support of the Tiger Reserve.
When questioned, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat on the HC order on Tiger Reserve, he only replied saying, “Don’t ask me, ask the Government.” Incidentally , when he was “the government”, the then Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Jairam Ramesh who wrote to him ( The Chief Minister) asking him to seriously consider notifying a Tiger Reserve in Mhadei.
However, Nuvem MLA Alexio Sequeira said that “People are not in favour of the Tiger Reserve.” He added that along with the Tiger Reserve
comes a lot of restrictions and these are going to affect large sections of society. After collecting all the facts, the government will take a call on what to do.
BJP Poriem MLA Dr Deviya Rane questioned, “While there is no doubt that we have to save the tiger and Mhadei, but who will save thousands of people?”
She also said that the notification of Tiger Reserve will affect thousands of people living in this sanctuary. Speaking on the Mhadei
water diversion issue, she said that the State Government will save Mhadei through other methods.
Navelim MLA Ulas Tuenkar said, “I am happy with the decision made by the chief minister and the forest department.” But Tuenkar perhaps forgot that the High Court doesn’t agree Leader of Opposition, Yuri Alemao said, “If required, people from Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary should be rehabilitated. The Judgment has shown that the tiger is back. As an opposition, we will all fight and oppose whatever steps that are not taken in the interests of Goa.”
