Team Herald
PANJIM: Environment and Forests Minister Rajendra Arlekar on Tuesday said that the process to declare certain wild animals as ‘vermin’ (nuisance animal) is in the preliminary stage, as the department is assessing animals involved in damaging agricultural crops and properties.
“We are still in the process of receiving data from various range forest officers about the animals that are involved in damaging crops, properties and even sometimes attacking humans,” Arlekar told media persons.
“The assessment is still on. The process is still in the preliminary stage,” he said, adding that once the department submits the report to the government, the same would be placed before the State Wildlife Board for approval. The final decision would be taken by the National Wildlife Board, Arlekar said.
As reported earlier, wild boars and monkeys are in the government’s potential list of vermin animal. The government was earlier caught on the wrong foot after a minister stated that the National bird peacock and State animal bison should also be declared as vermin.
In a bid to ensure that people are taken into confidence while demarcating private forest cover, Arlekar said he has directed the district committees, constituted to undertake the exercise, to listen to public grievances before finalizing the areas.
He said that the interim report of the committees is still not ready. The North Goa committee is headed by V T Thomas and South Goa panel by Francisco Araujo.
Responding to another question, the minister said that not only mining but tourism activities have, to some extent, put pressure on the environment.
“You cannot point to only specific activities like mining but tourism too has an impact. This needs to be phased out,” he said.
