MoEF notification on Goa buffer zones expected by Sept 15: CM

A formal notification by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) declaring buffer zones in Goa is expected to be issued by September 15, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said here today.
"The state government has submitted all relevant documents, required to notify the buffer zones, specifying locations, geographical details and maps, to the Union Environment and Forest Ministry. A formal notification is expected to arrive by September 15," Parrikar told reporters here.
The ministry had last year recommended a one km buffer zone around all four wildlife sanctuaries in Goa.
"The state government had a deadline of six months (expiring October) to announce the buffer zones. The process to declare buffer zones is independent from the exercise held to identify eco-sensitive zones in Western Ghats," the chief minister said.

The state government had already rejected a report by Kasturirangan panel on Western Ghat, saying the government will initiate a independent study on eco-sensitive zones.