Encroachments into protected areas have become a growing concern (EDITORIAL)
George Orwell in his allegorical novel ‘Animal Farm’ had stated, “All men are enemies. All animals are comrades.” The iconic book encapsulated the core philosophy of ‘Animalism’, which is the system of thought that motivated the animals’ rebellion against their human farmer. Humans in the novel have been portrayed as inherently exploitative, while animals presented as a unified group with shared interests.
As predictions are made about the ‘Water wars’ – as a result of climate change and population growth – that would be fought world over, in the future, Goa on the other hand could soon witness ‘Land wars’ with Goan land becoming more precious than water. This race for cornering land in Goa has seen destruction of forests, which, in turn, has become a curse for wild animals living in their natural habitat. Fortunately many environmentalists from Goa have joined a campaign, trying to stop Goan wildlife sanctuaries from being abused by the authorities, who are supposed to protect them in the first place.
Goa presently has altogether six wildlife sanctuaries. Those at Bondla, Cotigao and Mollem were declared as sanctuaries way back in 1968-69, while Mhadei and Netravali wildlife sanctuaries were notified by the then Governor, Lt Gen (retd) J F R Jacob in 1999. The Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary was established in 1988. Interestingly, Lt Gen (retd) Jacob had stated that the notification process of the Mhadei and Netravali wildlife sanctuaries was difficult one, and had to be done against the wishes of mining lobby and politicians.
The Goan environmentalists have recently urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in Goa’s wildlife project approvals and save the state’s ecology. The particular communication ironically holds the Bharatiya Janata Party government in Goa entirely responsible for this impending damage, further expressing concern that too many projects are being approved within the state’s wildlife sanctuaries. These friends of ecology have maintained that pressure is being exerted on the State Wildlife Board to approve such projects, all of which are linked to everything else except wildlife and forest cover.
In a shocking revelation, the environmentalists stated that a contract has been awarded for a special tourism project in Surla village, in Sattari taluka, which lies within the core area of tiger reserve. The information also claims that plans are in place to surround this tourism project with electric fencing so as to protect it from the wildlife. There is a concern that the particular project is located under the jurisdiction of the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and will cause irreparable ecological damage.
The greens have also pointed out to another similar project proposed in the Mollem Wildlife Sanctuary. They stated that a mining company has submitted a proposal for loading and unloading operations at Kalem, which also falls within this wildlife sanctuary. The activity, according to them, which extends into the sanctuary’s boundaries, is causing distress to wild animals and driving them out of their natural habitat toward nearby villages, thus increasing human-wildlife conflict. This has resulted in the recent rise in attacks on villagers by the wild animals.
At a time when Goa is facing environmental threat due to the proposed diversion of Mhadei River by the Karnataka government, the encroachments into protected areas have also become a growing concern, more so as despite repeated appeals, authorities have failed to take any decisive action. If animals could speak, they would have definitely raised slogans against such atrocities. However, since they cannot, those who can speak will now have to lead a crusade.
