The Supreme Court orders status quo on Goa’s Mhadei-Kotigaon, halting projects and ensuring no development in the proposed tiger reserve until further decision.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered a status quo in the Mhadei-Kotigaon area of Goa, which the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has identified as a potential tiger reserve. This interim protection halts all projects and development in the region until a final decision is taken.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, along with Justices K. Vinod Chandran and Atul S. Chandurkar, directed a Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to hear all stakeholders and decide on the issue within six weeks. Until then, the order ensures that no activity affecting the sanctuary takes place.
Background of the Case
The legal battle began when the Goa government challenged a Bombay High Court order directing the state to notify the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding areas as a tiger reserve within three months. The High Court’s ruling came on a plea filed by NGO Goa Foundation, which sought conservation measures for Goa’s tiger habitats as recommended by the NTCA.
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High Court’s Observations
In its earlier judgment, the High Court cited the Mahabharata, noting:
“If there is no forest, then the tiger gets killed; if there is no tiger, then the forest gets destroyed. Hence, the tiger protects the forest and the forest guards the tiger!”
The court emphasized the symbiotic relationship between tigers and forests, underlining the urgent need for conservation.
Directions Issued by the High Court:
- The state government must notify Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and nearby areas as a tiger reserve.
- A Tiger Conservation Plan must be prepared and sent to the NTCA within three months.
- NTCA was directed to provide full assistance to the state.
- The government must set up anti-poaching camps with forest guards, watchers, and staff across sanctuaries and national parks.
- Steps must be taken to ensure no encroachments in protected areas, both before and after tiger reserve notification.
Spread across 208 sq. km, the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary lies in Goa’s northeastern region, adjoining Karnataka. It forms a vital part of the Western Ghats ecosystem, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is home to rich biodiversity, including tigers, leopards, elephants, and numerous endemic species.
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