TTAG asks Centre to re-consider projects in wildlife santuaries

The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) has urged Central government to reconsider its decision of granting permission to three commercial projects in the protected areas of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park, as it is like to adversely impact the development of hinterland tourism in the coastal state.
TTAG President Nilesh Shah in a letter to Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) Prakash Javadekar and Minister for Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel has raised serious ecological concerns with regards to the projects- doubling of railway line, road widening and power transmission line.
“As members of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa we would like to express our concern about the diversion of forest land within and around the Bhagvan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National park, both prime locations of hinterland and nature based tourism,” Shah said.
“We are concerned with the impact of that these three projects will have on the tourism industry and we would like an impact assessment on the damage done to the protected area and surrounding forests versus what the connectivity benefits are for the tourism industry, residents and other stake-holders,” Shah said demanding that a cumulative Environmental Impact Assessment of the all the three projects be conducted rather than being looked in isoaltiom.
“Projects were passed on the basis of a virtual clearance that should be reconsidered and be held in abeyance until pandemic-related travel restrictions are lifted to allow in-person meetings and travel to project sites for fresh appraisals following due process,” TTAG demanded.
TTAG has urged the Central Ministry to consider the intersections between environmental
degradation and the future of Goa’s tourism sector which is at crucial junction.
“The 2019-2020 tourist seasons began with unseasonal weather and tropical storms and is now facing the covid-19 pandemic. This pushes us to strengthen natural capital and ecosystem resilience to strengthen the future of tourism in Goa,” Shah said.
“In this context, the three proposed projects will not only change patterns of land-use but
significantly affect the tourism potential of these areas and Goa’s overall tourism vision,” he added.
Pointing out to the tourism potential of the area, TTAG said that the region within and surrounding protected areas has some of the most scenic natural habitat in the country and is celebrated as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as a Biodiversity Hotspot.
TTAG said that hinterland tourism is thus not only a growing revenue generator for the state but can safeguard State’s position on the global tourism map as it provides a buffer when the coastal belt is closed during the monsoons.