FCC

Goa Seeks Input on Declaring 108 Villages as Eco-Sensitive

2024-08-26

The Goa government will circulate a draft notification proposing to declare 108 villages as eco-sensitive areas (ESAs) to panchayats and MLAs to seek their objections and suggestions. With 40 days remaining to submit feedback to the environment ministry, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has stated his intention to request that the Union government limit the ESA designation to just 63 villages.

In July 2022, the Union Ministry issued a draft notification proposing 99 Goan villages, covering 1,461 square kilometers, be declared ESAs. In June 2024, the ministry acknowledged discrepancies in the draft notification and stated that these would be rectified. The Goa government is concerned that declaring more villages as ESAs could lead to economic losses and unemployment, especially in areas with mining activities.

The state government hopes to exclude villages that do not meet the criteria and has repeatedly requested the central government to notify only 63 villages as ESAs. The final decision will be made after the 60-day feedback period.