“We have not rejected the report but asked them to conduct the exercise all over again… Total 99 villages of Goa fall in the eco sensitive area covering area of 1,461 sq kms but when this demarcation was done, no ground reality was taken into consideration,” Environment Minister Alina Saldanha told the House on Tuesday.
The Union Ministry of Environment and Forest on March 10, 2014 had issued notification declaring several villages as sensitive areas under section 3 of Environment Protection Act, 1980.
The minister said that as a result of this exercise certain villages like Khola (Canacona), Rivona and Colamb (Sanguem) which do not form contiguity with the Western Ghat are included in the eco sensitive area. Similarly Poinguinim and Loliem villages have been completely included in the ecologically sensitive areas.
“Eco sensitive area bans certain industry like distillery, industrial estates, milk processing and dairy products, Non alcoholic beverages, oil and gas transportation pipeline. Some of these industries are the ones in which common man is employed and earns his livelihood. All these constraints need to be considered,” she mentioned.
The minister assured the House that all concerned departments will be taken into consideration while the exercise will be redone by the committee.
