PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday said that the government will study the feasibility of setting up tiger reserve in the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary even as it was yet to receive the report from the National Tiger Conservation Authority regarding the killing of four tigers in Golavli village in Sattari taluka last month.
Briefing media persons after inaugurating the Goa Van Bhavan at Altinho,Panaji, Sawant said that once the Goa government receives the report prepared by the two-member committee constituted by the Ministry of Forest and Environment and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to hold inquiry into death of tigers in the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary, its recommendation would be studied and the feasibility of setting up tiger reserve will be examined.
"It is easy to make a report recommending tiger reserve project. But we need to also think of people residing in forest areas," Sawant said adding that efforts were on to relocate the families residing in wildlife areas . He said that he had already instructed the forest department officials to demarcate the wildlife areas and fence it so that 80 per cent of the problems would be solved. The range forest officers (RFOs) from respective area shave also been told to maintain good relations with the villagers, he said adding that it was also the duty of the people to preserve forest areas."
The Chief Minister disclosed that the government was contemplating the registering of trackers and medical herbs collectors in the State. These medicinal herb collectors will be given licences and allowed to visit in the wildlife sanctuary to extract the medicinal plants. He said that efforts were on to preseve the medicinal herbs grown in the forest areas before they become extinct. Registered trackers wil lbe allowed in wildlife areas and at Dudhsagar waterfalls.
A forest related research centre will also be established at Valpoi, while, the Bondla mini zoo will be developed as a touristic destination, informed Sawant.
Earlier, the Chief Minister inagurated the ‘Goa Van Bhavan’ built at the cost of Rs 18.50 crore at Altinho, Panaji. He said that all the offices of forest department currently housed in the Dayanand Smriti building and in the Junta House will be shifted to the new spacious premises.
GSIDC vice chairman and Mapusa MLA Joshua D'Souza, Chief Secretary Parimal Rai and other officials were also present. Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Subhash Chandra welcomed the gathering and later propsoed a vote of thanks.