THE GOAN NETWORK
PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the MoEF&CC appointed expert committee to examine views and objections of the State governments on Western Ghats Eco-Sensitive Areas (ESA) will be visiting Goa on Tuesday.
The team will be on four-day visit to Goa for ground verification on the State’s submission.
The Goa government in its submission before the Union Ministry has proposed dropping 21 villages from the ESA list and that 87 villages be categorised as ESA since they meet the criteria set out by the Ministry.
Sawant said that he appraised the Union Minister about various reasons identified for excluding 21 villages from the ESA list. “The committee will hold its first meeting tomorrow (Tuesday),” he said.
The Centre, in its draft notification, issued in August, had proposed 108 villages from Goa as ESA.
As per government proposal, 21 villages include 12 from Sattari, five from Dharbandora, three from Sanguem and one from Canacona taluka.
Of the total 87 villages proposed under ESA categories, 51 villages are from Sattari taluka, 23 villages from Sanguem, eight from Dharbandora, four from Canacona and one from Ponda.
