Digital Goa, Oct 17 – The fate of Tiger Reserve in Goa will depend on the outcome of the case filed by the State government in the Supreme Court in this regards, asserted Advocate General Devidas Pangam. AG has advised the State Govt to seek extension in time from the High Court for notifying the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve, as the three month deadline issued by the High Court ends on Oct 24. “If the application is to be filed in High Court, it has to be done within a week,” informed AG. He further went on to inform that the SC has also issued notices to the Central Govt. “Ultimately it will depend on the outcome of the Supreme Court,” he asserted.
Pangam said that the extension will be sought in the High Court on the basis that the matter is pending before the Supreme Court and certain matters such as Forest Dwellers Rights need to be settled before issuing the notification. As wildlife reserves themselves are proposed to be declared as Tiger Reserves and there are already strict restrictions in place vis-à-vis Wildlife Reserves, so immediate notification is not required is what the govt intends telling the court.
▪️ There are no encroachments in wildlife sanctuaries: AG
Pangam said that the other issue raised by the Court was related to encroachments. He asserted that there are no encroachments and that the govt is continuously monitoring the situation. After HC direction new orders have also been issued by the govt for streamlining protection of wildlife reserves. “On these basis we are seeking extensions,” AG said.
