VALPOI: Constituents of Valpoi MLA and Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane, especially the forest dwellers, are in sync with their elected representative in opposing a tiger reserve but want the government to solve their land ownership rights issue first.
Reacting to the Forest Minister’s claim that the tigers sighted in Goa are in transit, these dwellers claim that they have been watching these wild cats in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary for ages.
They further said there is evidence of the presence of a tiger in the sanctuary as they have sighted the wild cat’s paw marks in the forest. However, these residents made it clear that they do not want a tiger reserve but instead want the government to solve their land ownership rights.
“We have seen tigers at Pendali and Asolni in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary. Neither we, nor these tigers, have caused any harm to each other,” said the locals residing near the sanctuary for ages.
The villagers said that never hurt any wild animals or tigers, but lead a peaceful and happy life and want the ownership of their land and houses, where they reside and grow cashews, vegetables, and other crops. “We also have kulagars with areca nut, coconut, banana, and other plantations,” they said.
“We are totally opposed to the tiger reserve in Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary. Our houses and agriculture fields fall in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and for many years we have been demanding ownership rights of our property, but no one is listening to our voices. Everyone is talking about tigers in Goa and it’s a good thing as we have to preserve our green heritage and protect tigers as well. But the government has to solve our land rights issue first,” they said.
“I have been watching tigers in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary since my childhood days,” said 67-year-old Datta Paryekar from Valpoi.
“We have seen tiger paw marks in Pendali and Kadvai several times,” said Madhu Paryekar, another resident.
“Several times especially at night during our visits to the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary we have seen tigers in the forest and got frightened by their roars and returned home,” said a 70-year-old Narayan Gaonkar.
People in 28 villages are suffering since notification of wildlife
sanctuary: Local association
VALPOI: The Sattari Bhumiputra Association on Tuesday strongly opposed the tiger reserve in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and resolved to rally behind Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane, who has also opposed the proposal.
Addressing a press conference at Velus, Valpoi, Sattari Bhumiputra Association president Harichandra Gawas said since the notification of the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary in 1999, people residing in 28 villages are facing a lot of difficulties and have been demanding that the sanctuary be denotified or to provide them some relief but in vain. He feared that the tiger reserve would add to their misery and spell doom for the villagers.
Gawas claimed that the stand taken by Forest Minister and the local MLA Vishwajit Rane opposing the tiger reserve was valid and resolved to stand by him. He said that the tiger reserve if approved will bring more problems for the villagers due to additional restrictions.
Association member Shivaji Zarmekar said that some environmentalists were supporting the tiger reserve without realising that it will put villagers in further trouble. He appealed to the environmentalists to understand the plight of the villagers already affected by the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and not to support the tiger reserve proposal.
“Our forefathers have safeguarded; protected environment and it is now our responsibility to protect it for posterity. But in the name of environment nobody should try to support tiger reserve as it will bring untold miseries to villagers. We will foil any attempt to declare tiger reserve,” warned association member Balu Gawade.
