Activists addressing reporters on the HC judgment directing government to declare Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as tiger reserve at Azad Maidan on Monday.
Photo Credits: Manuel Vaz
OLD GOA
Various activists hailed the High Court judgment directing the State government to declare Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve.
Congratulating Goa Foundation for the verdict, the activists further slammed Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane for stating that he would challenge the order in the Supreme Court.
Addressing reporters at Azad Maidan-Panaji on Monday, activist Mariano Ferrao stated that the order is a tight slap on the government, particularly Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane who had only a few days back given thumbs down to the proposal of a tiger reserve in the State.
“With the HC judgment, the State government stands exposed and it should accept the verdict with humility, and work towards its implementation,” Ferrao added and congratulated Goa Foundation for fighting towards saving the tiger and its environment.
Another activist Rajan Ghate quoting the order said, “If there is no forest then the tiger gets killed and if there is no tiger then the forest gets destroyed. Hence, the tiger protects the forest and the forest guards the tiger.”
“We have been highlighting the need to declare Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as tiger as it would not only protect Goa’s environment but also River Mhadei,” Ghate stated and added that their campaign on the same has covered six talukas in the State.
Further, stating that their stand has been vindicated by the HC order, Ghate slammed the Forest Minister Rane for instantly reacting with the statement that he would challenge the order in the SC.
“This is a historic order and instead of accepting the same with humility, Rane goes ahead and states that it would be challenged in the SC,” Ghate said, while issuing a challenge that the government will face backlash if it goes to the SC.
Activists Rama Kankonkar, Xencor Polgi, Pratima Coutinho, Adv Sadanand Vaigankar and others also spoke.
