The Central government in its notification on eco-sensitive zones, also known as buffer zones, around wildlife sanctuaries has asked the state government to prepare zonal master plans in consultation with the local people in two years time. These master plans for buffer zones should be integrated into the Regional Plan for the state. In the notifications for the six wildlife sanctuaries -- Mhadei, Bhagwan Mahaveer at Mollem, Netravali, Cotigao, Bondla and Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary at Chorao – the buffer zones have been envisaged at 1-km from the border of the sanctuaries, subject to the Supreme Court ruling in the Goa mining matter. According to the Central government draft notification, “for the purpose of effective management of the Eco Sensitive Zone, the State Government shall prepare in consultation with local people a Zonal Master Plan within a period of two years from the date of publication of this notification in the Official Gazette for consideration and approval thereof by the Ministry of Environment and Forests.” “The Zonal Master Plan shall be prepared with the involvement of all State Departments concerned, such as environment, forest & wildlife, agriculture, revenue, urban and housing development, tourism, rural development, irrigation and flood control, mining and PWD for integrating ecological and environmental considerations into it,” the notification reads. Crucially the Central government document has also mandated that “The Zonal Master Plan thus prepared specific to this Eco sensitive Zone shall be integrated in the proposed draft regional plan for the State of Goa.” The Zonal Master Plan shall demarcate all the existing and proposed urban settlements, village settlements, types and kinds of forest, agriculture areas, horticultural areas, mining leases in operation, lakes and other water bodies and shall be a reference document for the State level Eco-Sensitive Zone Monitoring Committee (SESZMC) for monitoring the compliance of the provisions of this notification. The notifications issued by the Central government also classifies a total of 96 villages as ‘eco-sensitive villages’ either because they fall completely/partially within the buffer zone or because they have corridor value. Of these 96 villages, 25 fall wholly within the buffer zone, 58 fall partially and seven have corridor value. All these villages will have a list of prohibited activities including ban on hazardous industries, etc.