Environmentalists can breathe a sigh of relief, but those seeking better connectivity to the coast may have to wait a while longer. For, the Railways proposal for a Hubballi-Ankola line through the Western Ghats has been sent back.
The Regional Empowered Committee (REC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), which met on May 5, has said it is “not yet convinced” about the need to divert 595.64 hectares (5.95 sq. km) of pristine land for the much-delayed railway project. An expert committee set up by the REC had visited the site and raised questions about the viability of the project and its environmental impact.
On May 5, the REC, chaired by Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF-Central) M.R.G. Reddy, said a detailed presentation has to be prepared by South Western Railway covering technical, financial, ecological and hydrological aspects. This includes detailed cost-benefit analysis, including the cost for transport through alternative routes. It said re-enumeration, with GPS, is required of the more than 2 lakh trees that will be chopped trees in the proposed project area.
The expert committee felt the proposal was not justified as it was initially mooted for transportation of iron and manganese ore. The panel also raised questions about National Highway 63 not being used to its full capacity. It said implementation of the rail project would fragment the forest, making the existing wildlife vulnerable to vehicles and poachers.
The lack of plans for land use on railway stations also irked the expert committee. “If Railways is particular about this project, they should go for tunnelling from Kalaghatagi to Navalgadde village of Ankola range. At every station proposed, there should be proper barricading to prevent any illicit activities in the forest area,” the committee said.
The REC has asked the State government whether it prefers the unbroken revenue lands of Kudremukh project (around 2,500 acres) or the degraded forestland for taking up compensatory afforestation — as mandated when executing this project.
The project process stretches to more than a decade ago. In 2004, a request for diversion of 965 hectares was rejected by the MoEF&CC. Two years later, environment organisations approached the Central Empowered Committee, which recommended that the proposal not be considered. The case went to the National Green Tribunal, New Delhi, which in 2016 passed an order in favour of the Railways. Subsequently, the REC was approached with a fresh proposal on October 24, 2016.
