Can declare sanctuaries as tiger reserves only after 2017: Min

Goa government today said that the decision on the demand of State's wildlife sanctuaries be declared as tiger reserves will be taken after the ongoing study, which will continue till 2017, is completed.
"The study about the presence of tigers in state's wildlife sanctuaries will continue till 2017. Only after that we will take decision to declare them as tiger reserves," State Environment Minister Alina Saldanha said in the assembly today.
In a written reply, Saldanha said that the state's 67.67 per cent area is green cover including forests.
Leader of the opposition Pratapsingh Rane demanded that people living around the wildlife sanctuaries should be given protection for their farms being ravaged by the wild animals.

Saldanha said that the department has adopted measures like digging trenches, to avoid the wild animals from venturing into the farms.
"Similar situation is faced across the country," she said, adding that the department has been paying compensation for the loss of the farmers.