PANJIM: With a large number of inhabitants living in protected areas, the State government on Saturday spelled out its intention to conduct a study of wildlife sanctuaries in a bid to contemplate regularisation of structures in such areas.
The move comes a day after the State cabinet approved the ordinance for regularisation of illegal structures on private land, which does not speak of structures in protected areas. BJP MLA Subhash Phal Desai demanded that structures in wildlife sanctuaries also be considered.
“Wildlife sanctuaries are protected areas and we simply cannot take a decision. A proper research-cum-study has to be conducted on how we can consider the structures in those areas for regularisation,” Deputy Chief Minister and Revenue Minister Francis D’Souza told media persons.
“Most of the land in forests or wildlife sanctuaries is private land and there are several structures. We will conduct research to see, how we can give them protection, how we can consider them under the said Act,” he stated.
