MARGAO
The Save Mhadei, Save Goa Front has slammed the Goa government for its decision rejecting the demand for a Tiger reserve, saying the decision will adversely affect Mhadei and the overall environment of Goa.
Addressing the media here on Thursday as part of Mission Salcete to mobilise people for the battle to Save Mhadei, activist Rajan Ghate said the Goa government is bound to listen to the voice of the people of Goa who have been demanding notification of a tiger reserve and not that of the Centre. “Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane should know they have to listen to the people of Goa and not the Centre. We are a state and have a right to frame our own policy on tiger reserve,” he said.
Asserting the Goa government should function to protect the interest of the people of Goa, he lamented that the government has accepted the diktat of the Centre, adding that the Chief Minister has taken the decision to save his chair.
Saying a tiger reserve offers a solution on Mhadei and save Goa from being denied water from the river, Rajan said a tiger reserve would have also saved the Mollem environment which is sought to be destroyed to pave way for the track doubling project to transport coal.
Rajan said by reserving the wildlife sanctuary as a tiger reserve, the issue of Mhadei would have been resolved in favour of Goa. “It is sad that the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had batted for a tiger reserve in the year 2020, but now has done a U-turn. U-turns are not new for the present BJP government, but the decision will affect Mhadei and the state’s biodiversity and environment”, Rajan said.
Rajan along with Pratima Coutinho, Vikas Bhagat has appealed to the people of Goa in general to question the 40 MLAs over the government’s decision on the tiger reserve.
