The Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court has ordered the Government of Goa to declare the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding areas as a tiger reserve, in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the local NGO Goa Foundation. The court's direction came after hearing the petition seeking the government's compliance with the National Tiger Conservation Authority's (NTCA) request to designate tiger reserves in the state.
Quoting a Sanskrit verse from the Mahabharata, the court emphasized the importance of tiger conservation, stating that tigers protect the forest, and the forest guards the tiger. Highlighting the declining tiger population globally, the court noted that India's tiger population has decreased by almost 92% since independence in 1947.
In its comprehensive 94-page order, the court issued several directions to the Goa government. Within three months, the government must notify the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and other areas referred to in NTCA's communications as a tiger reserve. Additionally, the government is required to prepare a tiger conservation plan as per the Wildlife Protection Act and submit it to the NTCA within the same time frame.
To curb poaching and protect wildlife, the court directed the State government to establish anti-poaching camps at strategic locations within six months, staffed by forest guards and watchers. Furthermore, the government must expedite the determination and settlement of rights and claims of Scheduled Tribes and other forest dwellers within 12 months.
The High Court's ruling comes after the Goa government recently rejected the proposal to establish a tiger reserve, citing the small size of wildlife sanctuaries not meeting NTCA's criteria. While some opposition exists among locals from Sattari, North Goa, who fear restrictions on their movements in cashew plantations, the notification of the tiger reserve could strengthen the state's case against Karnataka's diversion of water from the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary.
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