Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today turned down the environmentalists' demand to pitch in for declaration of state's Mhadei Wildlife sanctuary as a tiger reserve, saying that so far only one tiger had been spotted there.
"So far, only one tiger has been spotted in that sanctuary (Mhadei wildlife sanctuary). One swallow does not make a summer!," Parrikar told reporters here.
"We want that there should be a study whether tigers do exist in that sanctuary before placing such a demand," the chief minister added.
In the recent past, the environmentalists had begun a campaign to declare this sanctuary as a tiger reserve after the presence of the big cat was recognised through the studies.
Calling himself an environmentalist, Parrikar said, "If you start using wildlife to block the economy, then you create more enemies of wildlife."
The Chief Minister's reference was apparently towards the restrain on activities that would be imposed once it is declared as a tiger reserve.
Mhadei Wildlife sanctuary is a 208 square kilometre area located in the western ghat in the north eastern part of the state bordering Karnataka and Maharashtra.
