PANJIM: In a major decision, the Goa government has moved a fresh proposal to the Centre requesting for the inclusion of just 26 villages, as against the earlier proposed 99, in the final notification on the ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) of the Western Ghats.
In the proposal submitted to the Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) Minister Bhupendra Yadav, Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant said the State has found that 26 villages broadly meet the criteria, which is that their maximum height should be 600m above mean sea level (MSL) with 20 per cent of village area above MSL, and that they should be contiguous with the Western Ghats of Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Addressing media persons on his Delhi visit, Sawant said the government had earlier moved a proposal to notify 30 villages as ESAs. “However, after going through all the criteria set, we observed that only 26 villages can be included. We have submitted the proposal to the Centre,” he said.
The High Level Working Group of the MoEF headed by Dr Kasturirangan Committee on Western Ghats had identified 1461 sq kms area, covering 99 villages – now 96 because two villages do not exist any longer and one is repeated – of three talukas – Sattari, Sanguem and Canacona – as eco-sensitive. The State government had declined to accept the report arguing that the ESAs were declared without taking the State and the people into confidence.
Accordingly in 2015, it moved a proposal to Centre to include 68 villages under ESAs. The proposal was revised in 2020 and State demanded that 30 villages be part of the ESAs under Environment Protection Act.
During the meeting in with the Union minister, Sawant also raised issues related to the finalisation of private forest areas and Rs 200 crore proposal for Integrated Coastal Management Plan for the State.
During his Delhi visit, the Chief Minister also called upon Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Tribal Welfare Minister Arjun Munda with regards to Schedule Tribe status to Dhangar community.
A meeting was also held with the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and it is decided that one lane of the Zuari Bridge and Varnapuri to Sada flyover to be thrown open for public by December 19.
A meeting was also held with Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur with regards to the International Film Festival of India (IFFI).
