PANJIM: The sword hangs over 44 mines as the clock ticks on the report on buffer zone for wildlife sanctuaries and national park which is due to be submitted on May 31. Indications are that the government appointed committees, are likely to propose three to five kilometers as buffer zone for the sanctuaries.

Senior forest department official said that the committees, which were due to submit their report on May 12, have now sought extension till May 31.The department is expecting the report to be submitted before this deadline, the implementation, of which will be done from next mining season, beginning October.