Panaji: Even as talks continue between state and Union govts over how many villages should be notified as Western Ghats ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs), the environment ministry’s draft notification proposes declaring 108 villages in Goa as ESAs, spread across 1,461sqkm.Goa govt had urged Centre in 2024 to drop around 21 villages from the prospective list, seeking a total of 87 ESA villages. Earlier, it had sought to drop 47 villages. The identified villages are in the talukas of Sattari, Canacona, Dharbandora and Sanguem.In its letter to the environment ministry, Goa govt said that many villages it wants excluded have major and minor minerals, with leases backed by valid environmental clearance.“There shall be a complete ban on mining, quarrying and sand mining in ESAs, and all existing mines shall be phased out within five years from the date of issue of the final ESA notification, or on the expiry of the existing mining lease, whichever is earlier,” the notification said.“Actual area will be finalised based on the recommendation of the state, views of stakeholders and the ESA expert committee,” said joint secretary, Ved Prakash Mishra.He said the draft will be considered for a final notification “in a phased manner either state-wise or through a combined single notification” on or after 60 days from the date the gazette of India copies are made public.“Any person interested in making any objections or suggestions on the proposals contained in the draft notification may forward the same in writing, for consideration of central govt within the period so specified, to the secretary, ministry of environment, forest and climate change, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jorbagh Road, Ali Ganj, New Delhi-110003, or at e-mail address: esz-mef@nic.in,” the notification said.This is the fifth draft notification issued by Union govt. An earlier draft in Aug 2024 also proposed 108 villages as ESAs. In July 2022, the ministry proposed 99 Goa villages as ESAs; in June 2024, it acknowledged discrepancies between the plan and the villages listed in the draft and said they would be rectified.
