PANAJI
The Supreme Court is likely to further hear on November 10, the special leave petition (SLP) filed by the Goa Government challenging the Bombay High Court at Goa order directing the State to notify the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding areas as Tiger Reserve.
The Court had on September 25, while admitting the SLP, issued notice to the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Goa Foundation.
The Apex Court, however, had not granted stay on the High Court order, dated July 24, wherein State was granted three month time to notify the protected area as tiger reserve.
Sources informed that for now the matter is listed for November 10.
The High Court had also directed the State to prepare a tiger conservation plan as per the Wildlife Protection Act and submit it to the NTCA within the same time-frame.
The government was directed to set up anti-poaching camps at strategic locations to be staffed by forest guards, watchers, etc, in the Wildlife Sanctuary and National Parks in Goa, which was to be completed in the six months from July 24 onwards.
Also, the government and the Forest Department were directed to take emergent steps to ensure that there are no encroachments in the protected forest areas like Wildlife Sanctuary and National Parks pending notification of the Tiger Reserve, and even after that.
The government was also directed to determine and settle the rights and claims of the Scheduled Tribes (STs) and forest dwellers following the law as expeditiously and preferably within 12 months from the date of the order.
