PANAJI
Goa’s forest and environment minister Rajendra Arlekar, who is in the centre of a storm, over government moves on the coconut tree and declaring several species as vermin, is mulling holding a “Bird festival” in the State.
Arlekar who made his thoughts known via online social networking platform “Facebook” in the group ‘Birds of Goa’ said he was impressed by the photographs of birds posted on the group and asked for ‘comments’ from bird lovers for his proposal.
“So delighted to see photographs of birds. Really fascinating! Can we have a bird festival in Goa? Bird lovers please comment,” Arlekar said.
With one such proposal already forwarded to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests , Arlekar received a range of responses mostly positive for his ‘proposal’. “Obviously we bird lovers are waiting for such an event,” Shashikant S Naik a bird lover on the group said.
“We can develop Goa into a birders paradise, which will bring in much needed higher end tourist into the hinterland and also provide jobs to the rural youth,” enthusiast Rudy D’Souza said.
“Yes Sir, that appears to be a great idea. But I reckon all the bird-lovers from Goa would be more happy if the government took firm steps towards protecting the rapidly disappearing natural habitats of what are unarguable the best creations of mother nature,” another enthusiast, Purushottam Gosavi said.
Before the minister had taken interest, Savio Fonseca of the Bird Society of Goa had sent a similar proposal to the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and GTDC team for a joint Tourism-Forest department action.
The Bird Society of Goa has been instrumental in getting the tourism department to promote ornithology in Goa as a tourism activity.
Tourist Stav Sinclair suggested that bird watching be integrated with existing tourism facilities.
“I return to Goa every year at least twice because they have such wonderful wildlife and people. Sadly, a lot of the locals are turning the wrong way due to tourism and our bad ways here in the west… Once the environment has been destroyed and built upon or such nature loses but so does mankind. Get the tourist and get the development. “I have been asked for many years for hotels to have feeding stations and watering places for guests to sit and watch the wildlife while having meals or drinks. I find that with very little investment by hotels would get many, many more recommends and revisits,” Sinclair said.
Arlekar’s reaction to the response he has received is now awaited.
