Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO: The government is dedicated to giving the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) the extra information it has requested for the designation of Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Areas (WGESA), according to Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira.
He affirmed that the state would reply to the MoEF&CC’s recent request for clarification on a number of points in the updated proposal, including which particular regions would not be included in the Ecologically Sensitive regions (ESA) notification.
“We want to take as many communities out of the draft ESA notification as possible. We have sent MoEF&CC our demands. We have made an effort to support them. Without a doubt, we have tried. The team, which visited the State and conducted a thorough investigation, was directed by a former director general of forests, Sequeira stated.
According to the Minister, the government sent the comprehensive report to the MoEF&CC, which then sent a committee to Goa, chaired by Sanjay Kumar. WGESA representatives came to the State, went to the locations, and confirmed the government’s claims. In a letter dated December 13, 2024, the committee has now requested more information.
The State government did not delay, according to the Environment Minister. In order to respond to them, we need time to gather all the necessary data. Numerous problems involve other government agencies. We will respond to the MoEF&CC once the ready is prepared.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated that the Environment Minister often attends meetings with the MoEF&CC and that the State administration occasionally corresponds with them.
River names, their sources in Goa, their traverse (distance traveled), their point of junction with the sea (delta or other forms), and other attributes were also requested by the WGESA Committee.
In order to go forward with the proposal’s examination and subsequent actions, the WGSEA Committee has requested the information.
Out of the 108 villages in the sixth draft of the Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA), 21 villages were already suggested to be dropped by the committee formed by the State government.
