Seeks 10-year phase-out of mining within wildlife sanctuaries
Govt rejects ESA specified for Cotigao, Salim Ali bird sanctuary
One km buffer zone for all wildlife sanctuaries
Proposes National Green Tribunal bench in Goa
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Goa has urged the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest to review its earlier notification issued under the Congress regime, enforcing an immediate outright ban on mining activities within one kilometre of wildlife sanctuaries and national parks in the State, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told mediapersons Wednesday.
Instead it has pushed for phasing out mining within buffer zone within a 10-year period. The Government has also refused to accept the three kms eco sensitive area (ESA) for Cotigao and the one km eco sensitive area for Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary as notified by the MoEF.
The Chief Minister said that in his recent meeting with the Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, he had petitioned for a zero buffer zone for its lone bird sanctuary at Chorao and one kilometre for the sanctuaries, namely – Mhadei, Netravali, Bhagwan Mahavir, Bondla and Cotigao. The Union Minister has asked the State to submit a ‘case to case’ proposal for buffer zone for examination on the above, Parrikar said.
Also though the two wildlife sanctuaries – Mhadei and Netravali were notified in 1999, and their boundaries still not finalized, the Chief Minister said that they need to also have a one km buffer zone.
“There are a total 32 villages inside these two wildlife sanctuaries,” Parrikar stated.
“The buffer zone in Sikkim is between 25-200 metres despite the State being part of the fragile Himalayan ranges,” he pointed out.
Parrikar, who is State Mines Minister, said that he has requested the MoEF to give the State 10 years to phase out mining activities rather than banning it in one instance. “The issue is not just of mining. Other development is also at stake…if there is a one km buffer zone, then Goa will not be Goa…it will be a Union territory depending on Centre for its every decision,” he said.
In August 2013, the MoEF had constituted a committee on buffer zone under the chairmanship of Dr Rajesh Gopal which had undertaken a site specific survey of all six protected areas. Based on the committee report, the Ministry in November issued a draft notification, defining the eco sensitive zones around each of the six protected areas.
“People sitting in AC rooms cannot judge the ground situation in Goa. Let them stay in the houses of ST or SC people and see how difficult their life is,” the Chief Minister said probably pointing out to Dr Rajesh Gopal and the Dr Kasturirangan committee report.
The State has expressed its reservations over Kasturirangan report on Western Ghats and feared that declaration of large number of State’s areas as eco sensitive zones will arrest development. “The (Union) minister has promised us that the State will be taken into confidence before coming up with the final conclusions on the report,” he stated.
“If State like Kerala can be given exemption by eliminating more than 50 per cent of areas identified as ESA, then why not Goa,” Parrikar questioned. Chief Minister was arguing that the Kasturirangan report “has its own perils.”
Green Tribunal: Government has also demanded that a bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) be set up in Goa as the officers have to travel to Pune, frequently, to attend various cases as the court is there. “I also expressed apprehensions on the manner blanket orders are issued by the tribunal, which I feel is beyond its scope,” he added.
