OLD GOA
Participating in the World Tiger’s Day celebration at Azad Maidan on Saturday, environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar opined that even if the government challenges the Tiger Reserve verdict in the SC, there would be hardly any changes in the order and government would be forced to notify Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve.“The developmental model that the State government is propagating will finish Goa. Therefore, I request the government to respect the HC verdict and declare Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve,” Kerkar stated.
“However, if the government challenges the same in the SC there will be hardly any changes in the order and a Tiger Reserve will become a reality at Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary,” Kerkar foretold, while adding that one needs to understand that Tiger Reserve is needed to save the forest, the environment, the wildlife, the natural resources and our lifeline river Mhadei.
“Around 43% of Goa’s population is dependent on Mhadei for drinking water and if the government is really serious about saving Mhadei, then it should notify Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve,” Kerkar stated.
Later speaking to reporters Kerkar informed that at present, the Centre has issued a show-cause notice to Karnataka after the State government wrote a letter to MoEF stating that tigers roam in areas like Surla, Haltara, Kalsa and Bhandura, where Karnataka is proposing to build dams.
“Due to the show-cause notice, the Environmental Clearance application is currently on hold,” he added.
“If Goa presents its case under Wildlife Protection Act of India, 1972 in a proper manner, then Karnataka can be stopped from diverting Mhadei.”
He further painted a grim picture as far as Goa’s wildlife is concerned as he stated that from 2009 to 2019, 5 tigers died which shows that the situation has gone out of control and today, there is human-animal conflict which can be avoided through such Tiger Reserves.
Kerkar then informed that the Constitution states that if we cannot preserve environment, forest and wildlife then we cannot call ourselves citizens of the country.
Slams misinfo being spread on 10-15k families to be resettled
OLD GOA: Environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar slammed the misinformation campaign being spread claiming that 10,000 to 15,000 people would have to be re-settled if Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary is declared Tiger Reserve.
“When the sanctuary was declared, majority of the habitations were kept out. Today, only six families need to be re-settled and they can be relocated at Nanoda where the government had acquired land for setting up dam, which though did not materialise,” Kerkar stated while also criticising the government for the undue delay in settling forest rights claim.
‘Threats and death are part and parcel of my life’
OLD GOA: Stating that he hails from a family which fought the colonial rule, environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar said he is not afraid of threats and death, as it is part and parcel of his life.
Speaking at World Tiger’s Day celebration at Azad Maidan, Kerkar said, “I am not staying in a city but in a small village Keri where many attempts were made to throw me out of the village.”
“However, I come from a family where my grandfather fought against the Portuguese and my father participated in the Goa Revolution. Therefore, I take threats and death as part and parcel of my life,” Kerkar informed.
