Sept 30 – Goa govt has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of IFS officer and former Chief Conservator of Forest Dr Pandey to carry out detailed study of MoEF & CC’s draft notification regarding Environmentally Sensitive Areas in the Western Ghats, informed Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira. Based on the study, Goa govt will finalise its stand on the number of villages to be excluded or included and accordingly submit its say to the Center, he added. Incidentally, 60 days period given for 6 states including Goa to submit their feedback on this sixth draft notification issued on July 31 proposing earmarking of 56,825 sq km as ecologically sensitive area (ESA) in the fragile Western Ghat has ended today.
