REASONING: Survey doesn't confirm tigers spotted in Goa as resident tigers; Charaunem dam gets Wildlife Board nod
PANAJI
In what could be a major disappointment for wildlife enthusiasts and environmentalists, the State Wildlife Board at a meeting has once again rejected the demand for a tiger reserve in Goa. The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant at Mantralaya on Wednesday, and attended by Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane, Chairman of Goa Forest Development Corporation Deviya Rane, among other appointed members.
An official announcement from the government is however awaited.
“The survey conducted so far has not confirmed that tigers spotted in Goa are resident tigers. If they are migratory, declaring a tiger reserve will serve no purpose other than availing central funds,” an official said wishing anonymity.
This is likely the main reason for turning down the proposal, he said.
In 2020, a tigress and three young tigers were found dead in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary promoting an emergency joint meeting of Goa and it’s counterparts. A subsequent investigation by wildlife and forest officials from Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Goa revealed that the deaths were due to poisoning.
After this shocking incident, environmentalists renewed their long-standing demand for a tiger reserve. Various representations were made to the government.
However, Minister Rane rejected the proposal last year, stating that the tigers spotted on the Goa side of the Western Ghats were not resident tigers.
The reconstituted 31-member Board in May this year excluded renowned environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar.
Meanwhile, during the meeting on Wednesday, the Board approved the Water Resource Department’s proposal to construct a dam in Charaunem Village in Sattari, which falls within the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary. “The construction of a dam at Charaunem will not only have a direct benefit to 250 farmers families to have sustainable water for irrigation but also indirectly benefit wild and domesticated animals as it will develop a new ecosystem,” the CM said.
In response to the decision, Minister Rane stated that the file for the dam construction will be processed for further clearances while he expressed gratitude to CM for approving the proposal.
Rane emphasised that the upcoming project will address the long-standing water-related issues faced by the people of Sattari.
The CM has also directed Forest Department to implement a ban on the use of alcohol and plastic bottles at the entry points of forests.
