Only 6 families in core area of Tiger Reserve: Kerkar

OLD GOA
Shooting down claims that thousands of people would be affected due to the tiger reserve as unrealistic, environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar has said only six families would have to be rehabilitated in Sattari taluka.

Speaking to The Goan over statements by Poriem MLA Deviya Rane that thousands of people would be affected, Kerkar said the statement has been made without study.

“While issuing the notification of Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary, only forested areas have been included and rest all areas like settlement zones, agriculture, horticulture have been excluded,” Kerkar added.

However, he said that if any forest rights claims are there, it needs to be settled as per the orders of the High Court.

“But, the process of identifying the area as tiger reserve will go on,” he stated.

Kerkar then informed that the government has to provide the forum wherein grievances of the people, if any, should be addressed.

Kerkar then mentioned that in 2001, when Pratapsingh Rane was the CM, he had appointed a Hemant Karapurkar committee in which a population of around 3,825 was identified.

“But, this figure is not properly supported as the affected population has to be identified from the core area as and when the Tiger Reserve would be created, there will be a core area and buffer area,” Kerkar said.

“In the core area, there are villages like Gulem, Tiraudi, Anjunem and Pansulem which are submerged in the reservoir of Anjumen irrigation project. Then, there are villages like Pandral, Varane, where no human settlement is recorded,” the environmentalist informed.

“Also, there’s a village Kadval where no population was recorded in 1971. But in 1981, one family was identified and now there are 2 families. In another village, Vainguinim, there are four houses. These six houses from Kadval and Vainguinim can be rehabilitated in the place called Nanoda where the government had acquired land for construction of dam, which however did not materialise,” Kerkar said.

“This land is with the WRD and the same can be used to rehabilitate these families,” he stated while adding that in Mollem National Park, as per the record of Goa government, there is no population.

“Whatever population was there in Nandred, they were compensated and relocated,” he added.

“It is only in Sattari that six families which would have to be rehabilitated. This is the reality.”

“So, if all these areas are included in the core area, it would come to around 200 kms and the rest of the villages could become part of the buffer zone and in the buffer zone, eco-tourism activities are allowed like wildlife safaris, hiking, trekking, etc.

“People are also allowed to go to the waterfalls but all such activities have to be done with monitoring,” Kerkar said.