PANJIM: In a bid to prevent diversion of Mhadei’s waters by Karnataka, the Save Tiger Save Mhadei Front has appealed to all MLAs to support demand to notify Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as Tiger Reserve in the ensuing Monsoon session of the State Legislative Assembly.
“We have been genuinely working to communicate to the people of Goa by all possible means the facts and the significance of the current issue, arising on account of the inter-State dispute between Goa and Karnataka, arising out of which, utilisation of Mhadei water, the perennial lifeline river of Goans,” the Front stated in its letter to the Chief Minister and all the MLAs.
It has also written to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to notify Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as the Tiger Reserve in the State as a part of the World Mission to save the big cats.
Save Tiger Save Mhadei Front convenor, Rajan Ghate said that Wildlife Census conducted by the Goa Forest Department has indicated the presence of tigers in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary. He stated that the people of Goa are demanding the creation of the tiger reserve.
The Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the 26 biodiversity hotpots in the world. It is also called the Great Escarpment of India and it contains large proportion of the country’s flora and fauns many of which are endemic to this region. Also the Western Ghats are older than the Himalayas.
Ghate said that on the International Tiger Day on July 29, they intend to encourage all to take appropriate action to save the rapidly declining population of tigers and setting Mhadei Tiger Reserve (Tiger Project) in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary.
According to Ghate, the Union government also through the NTCA had suggested the formation of the Tiger Reserve in Goa. The then Forest Minister Rajendra Arlekar did also approve the same and proceeded to get approval of the Central Wildlife Board. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant also had in-principle backed the tiger reserve project in the State.
“Therefore, keeping in view the genuineness of the public demand and the need of the time, the Mhadei Tiger Reserve formation may be approved in the ongoing Assembly session, as a part of the good governance and prevention of the calculated risks that may befall,” he said.