Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Sep 19: Taking serious note of missing files related to the proposed Goa Tiger Reserve, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has directed the State Forest Department to immediately lodge an FIR. The committee is scheduled to visit Goa in the first week of October for a hands-on study and must submit its report to the Supreme Court by the end of October.

During the CEC’s first hearing on September 16, petitioner Goa Foundation presented a written submission that included the Tiger Reserve proposal finalised by the State Forest Department in 2018. Foundation director Claude Alvares informed the committee that the official file containing the complete proposal had disappeared, making it impossible to produce the listed annexures.

“Upon hearing this, CEC member C P Goyal asked the PCCF if this information was correct. The PCCF admitted that the tiger proposal file could no longer be found. The CEC then directed the PCCF to file an FIR,” Alvares said.

The committee, comprising C P Goyal, Dr J R Bhatt, and Sunil Limaye, is examining the declaration of Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding areas as a Tiger Reserve. The Supreme Court has fixed the matter for consideration on November 12, placing it “high on board” to review the CEC’s recommendations.