THE GOAN NETWORK | PANAJI
In a unique instance, the High Court referred to a Sanskrit verse from the Mahabharata emphasising the protection of tigers as it directed the State government to declare the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) as a tiger reserve.
The 94-page order, delivered by Justices Mahesh Sonak and Bharat Deshpande on July 24, began with the verse from the Mahabharata (Kumbhaghonam Edition) – Udyoga Parva: 5.29.57: “If there is no forest, then the tiger gets killed; if there is no tiger, then the forest gets destroyed. Hence, the tiger protects the forest and the forest guards the tiger!”
This was enough to guess that the High Court was let down by the government’s refusal or unreasonable delay in notifying the sanctuary and other areas as a tiger reserve.
Despite the urgency, the government is adamant about ‘protecting human habitat.’
The presence of tigers in the area has been pointed out by national surveys and inquiries, particularly considering incidents of animals like buffaloes being attacked. The studies highlighted a significant reduction in tiger-inhabited areas outside protected zones, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding Tiger Corridors to enable tiger movement between source sites.
While the government contemplates challenging the order in the Supreme Court, Advocate General Devidas Pangam clarified that the State does not oppose notifying the area as a tiger reserve. However, he stated, the timing is not suitable for such a declaration, notification, or submission of any proposal to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and advocated for further study and safeguarding the rights of forest dwellers before taking any decisive steps.
The government may find itself trapped by its claim, as the forest department’s plan for the proposed tiger reserve did not include high-habitation areas.
The Court order has dispelled concerns citing this report, which also mentioned that sites with smaller inhabitation were included to ensure minimum displacement.
Goa moving at snail’s pace
over death of four tigers
The Central body report criticised Goa for its slow progress in the matter. In January 2020, a tigress and her three cubs died in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary after consuming poisoned buffalo carcasses. It highlighted the urgency to protect the tiger population and their habitat.
NGO Goa Foundation claimed that this unfortunate incident could have been avoided if the State had acted with alacrity but it attempted to downplay this incident, whereas the Central Government and the NTCA swung into action.
All is not well with
WLS management
The NTCA expert committee observed that four tigers’ deaths revealed that not all was well with the management of Mhadei WLS. It quoted some wildlife activists who stated the presence of tigers was well-known and documented. However, over the years, the Forest Department failed to take any serious and sincere steps to protect tigers.“It gives an impression that wildlife management appears to be a subject which is of least priority for the Goa Forest Department,” the committee observed.
Several instances of cattle depredation by the tigers and leopards in the past have been observed, the High Court order stated, adding that despite all this, hardly any compensation was paid to the victims.
ATR confirmed presence of tigers
The Court also considered the Action Taken Report that as part of All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) – 2018, the department carried out sign survey activities (Phase I) in May 2018 in potential tiger-bearing areas, including the Mhadei WLS confirming the presence of tigers in Mhadei WLS. The ATR urged the proposal to declare a tiger reserve to be expedited.
