Panaji: Goa Bench of Bombay High Court on Monday directed Goa government to notify Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as tiger reserve and issue the notification within three months.
Goa Foundation, a local NGO, had filed a Public Interest Litigation asking for writ of mandamus to the Goa government to notify Tiger reserves of Goa as requested by the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
State Advocate General Devidas Pangam told the reporters that the court has passed order directing Goa government to notify Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve within three months.
Pangam said that the court, in its order, has also directed anti poaching camps to be set up in the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary. He said that other directions are also issued for the purpose of implementing the provisions of Wildlife Protection Act.
Goa government earlier had refused the possibility of declaring Mhadei Wildlife sanctuary as a Tiger Reserve. State Wildlife Board had resolved against the Tiger Reserve.
Several NGOs had condemned the action claiming that declaring Mhadei Wildlife sanctuary as a tiger reserve would desist Karnataka from diverting the Mhadei river.
State Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao said that the order has larger repurcussions. “It is not the state government or central government but the Court that has protected our wildlife and Mhadei river,” he said.
Mhadei wildlife sanctuary is spread over 208 square kilometers, located in the North East part of the state adjoining Karnataka.
