Goa, July 29 -- The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued the seventh draft notification proposing the declaration of the Western Ghats as an Ecologically Sensitive Area, retaining Goa's proposed eco-sen sitive area at 1,461 sq km covering 108 villages - the same extent as proposed in the sixth draft issued in July 2024. The draft noti fication, published on July 27, 2026, invites objections and suggestions from the public within 60 days of its publication in the Gazette of India before the Centre finalises the notification.

According to the draft, the proposed ESA in Goa cov ers 108 villages across five talukas - 63 in Sattari, 26 in Sanguem, 13 in Dharbandora, five in Canacona and one in Ponda. Goa forms p...