Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: After years of deliberations and multiple revisions, the Centre is expected to take a significant step towards finalising Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA) in the Western Ghats, with Goa likely to be among the first states covered under the notification.
According to sources, discussions between the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and the Goa government have progressed substantially, paving the way for the State’s inclusion alongside Maharashtra and Gujarat in the initial phase of implementation.
The ESA proposal has remained under consideration for more than a decade due to differing views between the Centre and the six Western Ghats states over the extent of land that should come under environmental protection and the implications of such classification.
In Goa, the debate has largely centred on the number of villages to be included within the notified zone. While the Centre’s latest draft proposal identified 108 villages for ESA coverage, the State government sought a reduction in that number, maintaining that several villages do not meet the required ecological criteria.
The State has recommended the exclusion of 21 villages spread across Sattari, Dharbandora, Sanguem and Canacona talukas, reducing the proposed coverage to 87 villages.
Government sources indicate that negotiations on this aspect have moved forward, bringing both sides closer to an agreement. Similar progress has reportedly been made with Maharashtra and Gujarat, whereas discussions with Kerala and Karnataka remain ongoing due to concerns over the scale of restrictions that ESA status may impose. Tamil Nadu is also understood to have certain pending issues.
To assess Goa’s concerns on the ground, a committee appointed by the Environment Ministry visited the State last year and held consultations with officials and stakeholders. During these interactions, the State government highlighted the dependence of local communities on minor mineral extraction and expressed apprehensions that tighter regulations could impact livelihoods and the availability of construction materials.
The ESA framework is intended to safeguard environmentally fragile regions of the Western Ghats by regulating activities that could adversely affect biodiversity and ecological balance. Rather than imposing a blanket ban on development, the policy seeks to ensure that economic activities are carried out in a sustainable manner.
Once notified, the protected areas will face stricter controls on activities such as fresh mining operations, quarrying, thermal power projects, heavily polluting industries and large-scale construction ventures. Projects falling within these categories may either be prohibited or subjected to enhanced environmental scrutiny before approval.
With the final notification now reportedly in its concluding stages, Goa could soon see long-awaited clarity on the future of ESA implementation and its impact on development and conservation in the State.
