By Navhind Times

Copyright navhindtimes

Destruction of forests has forced wild animals to enter villages and towns

Nature has blessed mankind in various ways, and at the same time supported flora and fauna in forested areas. Unfortunately greed, rather than the need of man has forced him to encroach upon territories of plant life and animals, and take over the jungles. This has resulted in extinction of many species of plants and animals. Furthermore, the animals have no option but to barge into human habitation, causing serious man-animal conflict.

The High Court of Bombay at Goa, in its ruling on July 24, 2023, mandated that the Goa government must declare the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding areas as a Tiger Reserve within a three-month timeframe. Additionally, the High Court also ordered the government to formulate a comprehensive tiger conservation plan during the same period. However, the government displayed its reluctance to have a Tiger Reserve in the state, which can be attributed to various reasons such as large chunk of forest land going under this protected area thus hampering its further development, safeguarding the interest of poachers, having access to the forest for felling of trees in large numbers and so on. Nevertheless, the government, from time to time felt the heat resulting from having the tiger by the tail.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court stayed developmental activities in Goa’s proposed Tiger Reserve areas. The particular direction followed a petition challenging the High Court order to declare Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and surrounding areas as a Tiger Reserve. The apex court decision is definitely a setback to the state’s hinterland tourism plans.

In addition to the particular direction, the Supreme Court has also referred the matter to a Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and sought its report within two weeks. The Bench comprising of the Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and others said that until the CEC files its report, and the apex court examines it, the Goa government would not carry out developmental work in the areas which are the subject matter of the Bombay High Court order. The Bench has further asked the CEC to hear stakeholders in the matter and decide the issue in six weeks.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, arguing for Goa, said that if the 2023 order for designating wildlife sanctuaries in the state – as a 1,000 sq km Tiger Reserve – is implemented, the state would have to earmark one-third of its entire geographical area as a protected zone. He further expressed concern that the Tiger Reserve would take out 20% of Goa’s 3,700 sq km area from human use, forcing relocation of 15,000 families, if the reserve is notified. Norma Alvares, senior counsel appearing for Goa Foundation, impressed upon the top court that not an inch of Goa’s land outside the existing protected areas was to be notified as a tiger reserve as per the area already demarcated by the forest department.

The central government and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) since 2011 have been pushing Goa to notify the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and certain other contiguous areas as a Tiger Reserve. However, the Forest Minister has been incessantly stating that the tiger enters Goa from Karnataka, with the Western Ghats serving as a natural corridor, and then exits the state, further adding that “there are no resident tigers”.

The irreplaceable destruction of forests has already forced the wild animals to enter villages and cities. Politicians should now ensure that these animals don’t enter the bedrooms of people. Tiger Reserve is one of the measures to achieve this task.