PANJIM: The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) will urge the Central government not to grant any relief to the State to reduce the 10-km buffer zone around the wildlife sanctuaries.

“I will meet the Union that there should not be any reduction of buffer zone as it will encourage mining activity. If possible, the Central government should instead expand the radius from 10 kms to 15 kms,” GPCC spokesperson Jitendra Deshprabhu told reporters on Thursday.