TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Even as the state says it is readying itself to begin mining, the eco sensitive zones have still not be identified and notified by the Centre as yet.
In the hearing on the buffer zone matter on Monday, the apex court directed the Union Ministry of Environment and Finance to inform it by next week, when the Centre was going to issue the notifications on the demarcation of eco sensitive zones.
In the April 21 Goa mining case judgment, the Supreme Court had directed the MoEF to notify the eco sensitive zones within six months. The deadline ends on October 21.
Advocate General Atmaram Nadkarni, Harish Salve amicus curiae and Maninder Singh of the MoEF were present during the discussions.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had recently told the media that a formal notification by the MoEF declaring buffer zones in Goa was expected to be issued by September 15.
“The state government has submitted all relevant documents, required to notify the buffer zones, specifying locations, geographical details and maps, to the Ministry of Environment and Forests. A formal notification is expected by September 15,” Parrikar was quoted as saying.
Last year the ministry had recommended a one km buffer zone around all four wildlife sanctuaries in Goa.
