TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) has granted time till June 15 to the state government to submit report on physical demarcation of eco-sensitive areas (ESA) of Western Ghats.
In a letter to Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, MoEF has granted additional time till June 15 to submit the final report for notification. This is final extension granted to the state.
Following state government refusal to accept the report of a high level working group of MoEF headed by Dr Kasturirangan Committee on Western Ghat that identified total 1461 sq kms area, covering 99 villages of State’s three talukas as ES, MoEF had asked state to submit fresh report by December 20, last year. On the request of state, extension was granted till April 15.
“A further extension till June 15 has been granted to the state,” a senior official confirmed.
As reported by Herald in its April 25 edition, the state government findings have revealed that only 50 villages covering three talukas- Sattari, Sanguem and Canacona, are identified for inclusion as ESAs of Western Ghat, while in the case of the balance 44 villages, only a certain portion which is in the proximity of protected areas like wildlife sanctuaries can be included as ESA.
The findings has also authenticated that there are around 14 villages, identified as ESA, which does not form part of Goa. Officials said that about 90 percent of the exercise is complete, with experts working drafting the report. “The government is of the strong view that the entire 99 villages cannot be included as ESA as it is not feasible. In some cases, entire villages cannot be ESA but the portion of it located in the proximity of wildlife can be ESA,” official said.
