Goa must act now to protect its tigers
The recent discovery of a Bengal tigress’s carcass in the Sacorda–Dharbandora forest belt has stirred concern across Goa. Authorities have ruled out poaching. Tigers are rare, elusive, and often treated as occasional visitors wandering in from the adjoining forests of Karnataka. However scientific studies, camera trap evidence, and repeated sightings over the years indicate that Goa’s forests are not merely transit corridors. They are becoming part of a larger ecological range that can support breeding populations of big cats. The death of the tigress in Dharbandora highlights the urgent need for stronger conservation measures, including the long-debated proposal for a tiger reserve. Various projects and increasing human movement through forested areas disturb wildlife habitats. The Goa government has reportedly opposed establishing a tiger reserve, primarily citing the potential displacement of thousands of residents and the argument that tigers in the region are a “transient” population rather than residents. However, the death of this tigress demonstrates why delaying conservation decisions carries consequences. A tiger reserve would not merely be about protecting one species. It would create a framework for habitat conservation and wildlife management. Critics often argue that Goa has too few tigers to justify a reserve. But conservation cannot begin only after wildlife populations collapse completely. The purpose of a reserve is protection, in order to secure habitats before they become irreversibly degraded.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
Silent voter exclusion
West Bengal’s Assembly elections were not a coup, but a blockade—procedural, not physical—where democracy’s form survived while its substance was hollowed out. Over nine million voters were struck off the rolls, many under a new, opaque category called “logical discrepancy.” Instead of the state proving deletions, citizens had to prove their right to vote. Marginalised communities bore the brunt, and in dozens of constituencies, exclusions exceeded past victory margins—outcomes shaped before ballots were cast. Appeals offered no remedy, of lakhs filed, barely 1,600 names were restored. Meanwhile, unprecedented deployment of central forces, raids by agencies, and intimidation of candidates created an atmosphere of compliance rather than participation. Taken together, these measures describe not an election but a controlled environment. The right to vote—fundamental and non-negotiable—was conditioned by administrative discretion. If such practices stand, they will become precedent. Democracy will continue in ritual and form, but its essence will already have been eroded. Bengal’s experience is a warning: democracy does not collapse overnight—it is chipped away, file by file, raid by raid, deletion by deletion.
Assis Everette Telles, Margao
Clean energy push
Goa has extensive stretches of backwaters as well as five dams and reservoirs. In January 2024, the Centre’s SJVN Green Energy Ltd. (SGEL) and the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) conducted feasibility studies for the installation of floating solar plants (FSPs) at the Selaulim, Amthane, Anjunem and Chapoli dams, with a proposed investment of Rs 1,300 crore. However, in April 2025, the Water Resources Department (WRD) withheld approval, citing “ecological risks” such as the impact of FSPs on water quality, reduced penetration of sunlight, and possible contamination. India already hosts the world’s largest floating solar project at the Omkareshwar Reservoir, while similar projects operate successfully in the dams of Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. Compared with the scale of those reservoirs, Goa’s dams are relatively small. Yet, the authorities appeared reluctant to permit FSPs in the state. It is reassuring that the government has finally decided to install a floating solar plant in Panaji’s backwaters. This first project, estimated to cost Rs 19.51 crore, will utilise 8.36 acres of water surface and generate more than 7,000 MWh of electricity annually. The plant will produce clean energy while avoiding the persistent difficulties associated with land acquisition.
Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem
Progress through innovation
A country’s scientific temperament and overall progress largely depend on its culture of learning and innovation. India has gone the extra mile over the years to achieve technological self-sufficiency. The importance of a sustainable future through innovation cannot be overstated. National Technology Day is observed on May 11 to commemorate the successful conduct of the Pokhran-II nuclear tests under Operation Shakti. The maiden flight of the indigenous Hansa-3 was another major milestone achieved on May 11, 1998. Stalwarts APJ Abdul Kalam and R Chidambaram were behind these remarkable achievements that laid the foundation for strengthening India’s military capabilities. Prime Minister A B Vajpayee was the guiding force behind these visionary leaders.
Ganapathi Bhat, Akola
