PANAJI
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) Bhupender Yadav has informed that the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has directed the Goa government to consider declaring Mhadei wildlife sanctuary as a tiger reserve.
In a communication to a South Goa Member of Parliament Captain Viriato Fernandes, the Union Minister has said that only after a proposal is received from the State government, NTCA will take up the matter as per the procedure laid down under the Law.
“I would like to inform you that the National Tiger Conservation Authority has communicated the matter (declaring Mhadei as tiger reserve) to the State government for consideration and needful action,” Yadav said.
“After the proposal from the State government is received, NTCA will take up the matter as per laid down procedure and provisions of the relevant acts,” he added.
In August, Viriato had written to the Union Minister, based on a memorandum submitted by students of ten schools, requesting to declare the Mhadei as tiger reserve.
The matter pertaining to the tiger reserve is currently pending before the Bombay High Court at Goa, wherein the State is currently facing a contempt plea for failing to declare the sanctuary as tiger habitat.
