The proposal of the Task Force on the Regional Plan 2021 to identify eco-sensitive zones so as to protect forests, khazan lands and heritage sites from mining, large industries and real estate developments is a sensible one. The report of the task force has correctly stated that Goa is facing tremendous development pressure on its limited land resources, mainly as a result of property speculation and not owing to the natural growth of the population. The central government had prepared a scheme in 2007 for setting up eco-sensitive zones. So far, the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests has identified and notified Maharashtra's well known hill resort towns of Matheran and Mahableshwar-Panchgani and the seaside town of Dahanu, as well as Madhya Pradesh's Panchmarhi, among others, as eco-sensitive zones. But what does this mean exactly? In the case of Matheran, the new regulations apply to the Matheran municipal council area, as well as the adjoining region, totally covering 214.73 sq km, covering 70 villages in Raigad district's Karjat taluka and 19 villages in Thane district's Ulhasnagar taluka. Only non-polluting, non-hazardous, small-scale and service industries, agriculture, floriculture, horticulture and agro-based industries will be permitted. Quarrying and mining is banned. Plastic bags are prohibited. The discharge of untreated effluents is not allowed. The state government has to prepare a zonal master plan within two years of the date of notification that will clearly demarcate all existing forests, green areas, horticultural areas, including orchards, tribal areas, and other environmentally sensitive areas. No change of land use from green uses to non-green uses is permitted. Individual urban areas and villages in the eco-sensitive zone will have sub-zonal master plans, within the overall framework of the zonal master plan. The concurrence of the Ministry of Environment and Forests is required for all plans. Until this is obtained, there can be no increase in permissible Floor Area Ratio, permissible height, permissible maximum number of storeys and permissible ground coverage. Absolute height of buildings in eco-senstive zones cannot exceed 9 metres. Industries can be located only in designated industrial areas or estates, but this regulation does not apply to functioning units or those that have already obtained all statutory permissions before the notification. In village areas, dairy, poultry, and other allied agricultural activities are allowed. While quarrying and mining are banned, the monitoring committee can give special permission for limited quarrying of materials required for the construction of local residential housing and traditional road maintenance work, provided it is not done on forest land. The state government's master plan also has to make provisions to restore denuded areas, manage catchment areas, watersheds, groundwater, soil and moisture. There should be no reduction in tribal area, forest zone, green zones and agricultural area. All this has to be monitored by a 10-member committee, chaired by an eminent person, with the Collector of the district in which the zone is located as its convener. Its job is to ensure compliance, as well as to take action against those who breach the provisions of the notification. Goa's situation is different from Manarashtra's which is why the task force seems to have suggested two different levels of eco-sensitive zones. Eco I will be preservation areas like forests and khazans, where no development can be allowed, while Eco II areas will see restrictions on development. All in all, in a Goa that is exploding with construction, stepping sensibly on the brakes is very necessary.