This is with reference to the report, "SC restrains construction within core areas of tiger reserves, national parks - The Goan Everyday February 9, 2023." That indeed was some good news, the Supreme Court restraining authorities from carrying out any construction within core areas in tiger reserves, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Incidentally, according to another news item today, a leopard had strayed into the Ghaziabad Court complex, injuring atleast five people before it was tranquilised by forest officials and taken away. In Mumbai too, we have leopards entering residential areas regularly and forest officials lay traps for them and take them away. That begets the question, have the leopards 'strayed' into human habitat or has man strayed into animal territory? The point is, we need to give them their space. While heeding this order of the supreme court the authorities must also stop destruction of forests like Aarey in Mumbai for the metro carshed and in Goa for ill-conceived infrastructure projects. Let both man & beast live in peace & harmony!
