Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: Goa has proposed to declare 1247.72 sq. km. in 87 villages as part of Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area, by excluding 21 villages with an area of 226.16 sq. km.
State has informed that the villages proposed for exclusion do not meet the criteria & also to ensure livelihood, employment and economic development of the people from those villages, the MoEF&CC said in a written reply Lok Sabha on the questioned asked by Lok Sabha MP Capt Viriato Fernandes.
The State Government has informed that the villages, which have been proposed for exclusion do not meet the criteria, laid down by the Committee, which has been constituted by the Government of Goa.
Besides, the State Government has sought exclusion of villages to ensure livelihood, employment and economic development of the people.
The Ministry has republished draft notification on Ecologically Sensitive Area of Western Ghats on 31 July 2024 regarding which claims/objections Were to be submitted by the Stakeholders including State Governments by 29th September 2024.
In order to address the issues raised by the stakeholders including the respective State Governments while finalizing the draft notification, the Ministry has constituted a Committee to examine the suggestions of the six State Governments in a holistic manner including issues related to the inclusion/exclusion of villages and keeping in mind the conservation aspects of the disaster prone pristine ecosystem, and the rights, privileges, needs and developmental aspirations of the region and to give its recommendations.
