New Delhi, Nov 1 (TNN): Mining and other human activities will be completely banned around four of the six wildlife sanctuaries in Goa from early next year.

Areas around the remaining two protected areas - Netravali and Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuaries - however, won't see mining coming to an end soon as the state government has been given five-10 years to eradicate such activities within the existing leased zones.

Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) on Thursday made draft notifications for each of the six protected areas public, specifying buffer areas around the sanctuaries as Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) within which mining and other activities will be banned.

The notification specified that ESZ will be for three km all along the periphery of Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary's boundary. In the case of five other sanctuaries, the ESZ will, however, be for one km all along the periphery of their existing natural boundaries.

The ministry came out with lists of villages around the six wildlife sanctuaries that will be covered for banning existing mining of minor and major minerals, stone quarrying and crushing units.

The ban order would come into force on or after the expiry of 60 days from the date on which the final notification is issued. It is expected that the gazette notification to this effect will be issued soon, and the government order will come into force from January, 2014.

Mining will be completely stopped around Cotigao, Bondla, Dr Salim Ali and Madei Sanctuaries after around two months. However in cases of Bhagwan Mahaveer and Netravali, the existing mining would be phased out on the basis of state government's plans.

"The existing mining leases (major or minor minerals) shall be phased out in a time bound manner (five or ten years) subject to the final orders of the Supreme Court," said the notification on Bhagwan Mahaveer and Netravali Wildlife Sanctuaries.

The ministry will soon constitute state-level ESZ Monitoring Committee (SESZMC) to monitor the compliance of the notification for Goa. The panel will consist of state chief secretary as its chairman. The monitoring panel will also have representatives from the environment ministry, State Pollution Control Board, green NGO - nominated by the state government- and community-based organizations among others. It has to submit the annual action taken report of its activities by March 31 every year to the central ministry.

Besides seeking suggestions from general public and experts over the proposal contained in the draft notification, the ministry has asked the Goa government to prepare a Zonal Master Plan within a period of two years which would be considered and approved by the ministry for ESZ's effective management.

The state government has been asked to consult locals before preparing the Zonal Master Plan.