PANJIM: Manohar Parrikar-led Government’s decision to have one km buffer zone around wildlife sanctuaries and the national park, has been denounced by environmentalists and concerned citizens who alleged that the “Government is trying to protect the interest of mining lobby”.

The environmentalists recommend that the buffer zone should not be less than three kms for the State. Cabinet Minister in the BJP-led Government Alina Saldanha had also expressed her unhappiness over the one km buffer zone and had said that the zone should be two kms.