Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Stating that he welcomes all criticism from environmentalists, Forest Minister Vishwajit Rane today reiterated that there is no proposal before State to declare any part of wildlife as a tiger reserve.
A day after making a stunning statement on no tiger reserve in Goa, Rane said he stands firm on his decision not to declare Mhadei or any part as a tiger reserve in a video message released.
“Goa is a small State to have a tiger reserve. As of today, there is no proposal before the State to declare any wildlife area as a tiger reserve. We already have a tiger corridor,” he said.
“I welcome all criticism or trolls. But I am a Minister who stands by what I say and will not change my decision,” he said.
Slamming green activists over their comments targeting the Minister, Rane said that he doesn’t need environmentalists to come and advise him on forest management.
The Minister said that it is important that wildlife or forest and human habitat work in sync.
He said that expertise from the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, will be sought to prepare a roadmap for the management of Wildlife sanctuaries and to promote them on the eco-tourism map.
“We will take on board some retired IFS officers from Goa and other parts of the State to guide us on forest management, ” he said.
Rane said that a proper infrastructure needs to be created across all protected areas so as to attract tourists and encourage eco-tourism.
“I want the Bondla zoo to be on the eco-tourism map of India. I am not happy with its present condition. Not on Bondla, but other wildlife sanctuaries too are not maintained in good condition,” he said.
The State has five wildlife sanctuaries, one national park, and a bird sanctuary.