Why is this in the News?
- The Development: The Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has recommended notifying the Goa Tiger Reserve in a phased manner.
- The Trigger: A legal battle between the Goa Foundation (NGO) and the State Government over a Bombay High Court order (July 2023) directing the notification of a Tiger Reserve.
- The Conflict: The State opposed the move citing “human displacement” (approx. 1,274 households) and claimed tigers were merely “transient” (passing through) rather than “resident.”
2. How will the Reserve be Notified? The CEC proposes a “least disruptive” strategy by prioritizing areas with minimal human presence.
| Phase | Included Areas | Role in Reserve | Rationale |
| Phase I | Netravali WLS & Cotigao WLS | Core Zone | Direct contiguity with Kali Tiger Reserve (Karnataka); Low habitation (~91 households). |
| Phase I | Bhagwan Mahavir WLS (North) & National Park | Buffer Zone | Contiguous with Kali’s Buffer; Minimal habitation (~11 households). |
| Phase II (Deferred) | Mhadei WLS & Bhagwan Mahavir (South) | Future Consideration | High human population (~612 households). Needs consultation before inclusion. |
3. The ‘Greater Landscape’ Concept
- Total Proposed Area: 468.60 sq. km (Phase I).
- Ecological Contiguity: The new reserve will merge with the 1,345 sq. km core/buffer of Karnataka’s Kali Tiger Reserve.
- Significance: Together, they create a massive 1,814 sq. km protected block, vital for the genetic dispersal of tigers in the Western Ghats.
4.How is a Tiger Reserve Notified? (Legal Procedure)
- Governing Law: Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (specifically Section 38V).
- The Authority: Notified by the State Government.
- The Recommendation: Must be recommended by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).
- Structure:
- Core Area: Inviolate area; no human activity allowed (Critical Tiger Habitat).
- Buffer Area: Peripheral area; promotes coexistence; limited human activity allowed.
5. Geography Check: The Protected Areas involved
- Kali Tiger Reserve: Located in Uttara Kannada, Karnataka. The Kali River is its lifeline. (Formerly Dandeli-Anshi TR).
- Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary: Located in North Goa; famous for the Mhadei River (Mandovi) catchment area. Known for semi-evergreen forests.
- Netravali WLS: Located in South Goa; home to the Mainapi and Savari waterfalls.
- Cotigao WLS: Known for tall trees and a multi-storied forest structure; located in Canacona, South Goa.
6. What is the Central Empowered Committee (CEC)?
- Origin: Initially set up by the Supreme Court in 2002 to monitor environmental compliance.
- Current Status: Reconstituted as a permanent statutory body by the MoEFCC (Sept 2023) under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- Function: It now reports to the Ministry (Executive) rather than directly to the SC (Judiciary), replacing the earlier ad-hoc committee.
