Lok Sabha Question No. 1035 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-10
Subject: Proposed Ecological Sensitive Areas  in Goa
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Captain Viriato Fernandes

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1035

TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.02.2025

## Proposed Ecological Sensitive Areas in Goa

## 1035.     SHRI CAPTAIN VIRIATO FERNANDES :

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a)  the details of names of the villages recommended by the State Government of Goa for exclusion  from  the  draft  notification  published  on  31  July  2024  pertaining  to  EcoSensitive  Areas  (ESA)  including  the  villages  which  were  recommended  for  exclusion citing  reasons  of  Active  Environment  Clearance  (mining)  issued  by  the  Ministry  of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC);
- (b)  the details regarding criteria for a village to be identified as ESA in western ghats;
- (c)  the  details  of  all  the  objections  and  suggestions  received  after  the  draft  notification published on 31 July, 2024 with respect to the State of Goa; and
- (d)  the details of all the reports including final report consisting of maps, water bodies, forest areas, etc. submitted by the said State Government to the Ministry including the minutes of meeting during the visit of the central team (MoEFCC) to Goa?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a)  to  (d)  In  order  to  protect  the  fragile  ecosystem  as  well  as  the  rich  biodiversity  of  the Western  Ghats  regions  and  considering  its  ecological  significance,  this  Ministry  has  republished the draft notification vide S.O 3060 (E), dated 31.07.2024 with an area of 56,825 sq.km, spread across six States, namely, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil  Nadu,  based  on  the  report  of  the  High  Level  Working  Group,  chaired  by  Dr.  K. Kasturirangan. The State Government of Goa, in their latest proposal dated 10.01.2025 have proposed for declaration of 84 villages as Western Ghats Ecologically Sensitive Area in the State which excludes 24 villages from the draft notification on Ecologically Sensitive Area of Western Ghats published by this Ministry on 31 st  July, 2024.

In  order  to  address  the  issues  raised  by  the  stakeholders  including  the  respective  State Governments on  declaration  of  Western  Ghats  Ecologically  sensitive  Areas,  the  Ministry has constituted a Committee to examine the suggestions of the six State Governments and other stake holders, in a holistic manner including issues related to the inclusion / exclusion of villages and keeping in attention the conservation aspects of the disaster-prone pristine ecosystem, and the rights, privileges, needs and developmental aspirations of the region and to  submit  its  final  recommendations.  The  suggestions  and  objections  received  within  the time prescribed under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 pursuant to the publication of the draft notification published on 31 st  July, 2024 have been furnished to the respective State Governments for their comments.

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