Only 50 villages in Western ghat of Goa eco-sensitive: Report

PANAJI: In a relief to over 40 villages of Goa, the state government-appointed committee has said only 50 villages fall under eco-sensitive areas (ESA) of the Western ghats and not 99 as stated by Dr K Kasturirangan Committee.

The state government panel's report comes after Dr Kasturirangan Committee, constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF), had marked 99 villages as eco- sensitive zones in Goa, ceasing development works in those areas.

A senior state environment ministry official told today that only 50 villages from the talukas of Sattari, Sanguem and Canacona can be marked as "eco-sensitive".

"As far as rest of the areas are concerned, only certain parts of these villages in the proximity of protected areas like wildlife sanctuaries can be included as eco- sensitive," he said.

The government will send the report to MoEF by June 15, which will be considered for final notification of the eco-sensitive zones.

Earlier, the High Level Working Group of MoEF headed by Dr Kasturirangan Committee on Western Ghat had identified 1,461 sq kms area, covering 99 villages (entire villages) in three talukas Sattari (56), Sanguem (38) and Canacona (five) as eco-sensitive.

Then chief minister Manohar Parrikar had refused to accept the report stating that the ESAs were declared keeping the state in dark.

Fears were raised that such a demarcation of ESAs would affect local inhabitants.

After objection registered by several states, MoEF had directed seven states in the Western ghat to have physical demarcation of eco-sensitive boundaries and submit the report for fresh consideration.

The final date for submission was April 15. The Goa government, however, sought additional time till June.