South Goa MP Captain Viriato Fernandes is actively advocating for the designation of the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve. He plans to raise the issue in Parliament, emphasizing the importance of preserving the state’s biodiversity, particularly in protecting the Western Ghats, which are crucial for Goa’s ecology. Fernandes has criticized the BJP-led Goa government for not implementing the Bombay High Court’s order to declare the sanctuary a tiger reserve, which was mandated in 2022. He believes the tiger reserve status would help curb illegal activities around the sanctuary and strengthen Goa’s position in disputes such as the water diversion from the Mhadei River.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has also urged the state government to consider this designation, but it is awaiting a formal proposal from the Goa government
