Team Herald
MARGAO: Supporting the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) draft notification, the Poinguinim Village Panchayat gram sabha unanimously resolved to demand the retention of their village in the Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA).
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With 318 residents having previously written to support this designation, the villagers demonstrated a resolute commitment to environmental preservation.
The draft notification provided critical reassurances about continuing local activities. Existing and proposed healthcare establishments would operate normally, and there would be no restrictions on property ownership, residential house repairs, or extensions. The ESA would not impede agricultural, horticultural, economic, educational and community services.
The gram sabha members carefully noted the specific prohibitions within the ESA.
The designation would effectively prevent environmentally harmful projects such as thermal power plants, red category polluting industries, and large-scale mining or construction projects exceeding 20,000 square metres.
Importantly, the members were particularly supportive of the provision that the restricted activities were only related to hydel power projects and orange/white category polluting industries.
