Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The State government-appointed committee has recommended that only 21 villages be dropped from the list of ecologically sensitive areas (ESA) of the Western Ghats region.
According to sources, the committee has suggested removing 21 villages, including one from Canacona taluka, three from Sanguem, five from Dharbandora, and 12 from Sattari.
51 of the 87 villages total that are suggested under the ESA categories are located in the Sattari taluka, 23 in Sanguem, 8 in Dharbandora, 4 in Canacona, and 1 in Ponda.
According to sources, 1,247 square kilometres of Goa are suggested for ESA classification.
The Union Ministry published a draft notification in July designating 108 Goa villages as the ESAs for the Western Ghats, as opposed to 99 villages. The State had written to the Center, citing a number of concerns, pleading with it to designate just 63 communities as ESAs.
The Union Ministry published a draft notification in July designating 108 Goa villages as the ESAs for the Western Ghats, as opposed to 99 villages. The State had written to the Center, citing several concerns, pleading with it to designate just 63 communities as ESAs.
A draft notification by the Union Ministry in July 2022 suggested the declaration of 99 Goa villages as ESAs. Nine more communities were added when the ministry acknowledged in June 2024 that there were differences between the plan and the draft announcement of 99 villages.
