Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji
Panaji, Nov 25: In a major development linked to the ongoing assessment for a proposed Tiger Reserve, the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has directed the Goa Revenue Department to immediately hand over all land classified as ‘Forest Revenue land’ to the Forest Department. These lands are currently in possession of the Revenue Department, various government agencies, or private entities.
The instruction was issued during CEC member Sunil Limaye’s recent visit to Goa, where he held extensive discussions with district collectors and officials on identifying forest-like areas, including privately held lands exhibiting characteristics of natural forests.
The deliberations are rooted in the landmark Godavarman judgment, in which the Supreme Court expanded the definition of ‘forest’ to include any area with predominant tree cover and vegetation, regardless of ownership.
A senior official present at the meeting said the CEC has asked the Revenue Department to prioritise the transfer of all such land parcels to the Forest Department. The Revenue authorities were also urged to cooperate fully in identifying and demarcating private forest areas and to expedite the process for their official notification.
The Forest Department briefed the CEC on the methodology it has been following for years to identify Goa’s private forests and the procedures adopted for their notification. Officials informed that in 2024, the government notified 45.5 sq km and 46.1 sq km of private forest land in two separate orders, in compliance with directives issued by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
As part of the ongoing evaluation for the proposed Tiger Reserve, the CEC member visited Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary. He inspected Bhutpal, a village inside the sanctuary where community rights remain unrecognised, and Tirwal, a settlement geographically located within the sanctuary but officially excluded from its notified boundary.
On November 12, the Supreme Court granted the CEC one week’s time to submit its report on declaring Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and surrounding regions as a Tiger Reserve, after the committee stated that key documents from the Goa government and the National Tiger Conservation Authority were still awaited.
The Court has also allowed three additional weeks for all parties to file their responses. The matter will now be heard after four weeks.