Wildlife board says no clearance yet from NTCA
PANAJI
The National Board for Wildlife (NWBL) has decided to keep on hold a proposal for the diversion of 10.45 hectares of forest land for the purpose of doubling of the Tinaighat-Castlerock-Caranzol passing through Dandeli -Anshi Tiger Reserve owing to a lack of clearance from the National Tiger Conservation Authority.
In a meeting held on July 3, the NWBL took up the proposal on the Karnataka side of the double-tracking project but decided to “defer the project till the receipt of the report from the NTCA, for further consideration in the matter.
The South Western Railway is seeking to double the railway line between Tinaighat in Karnataka and Vasco da Gama in Goa as part of a larger project to double the railway line that runs between Hospet and Vasco da Gama.
While the Hospet to Tinaighat section has been completed, the Tinaighat to Vasco section is now being undertaken and has been met with opposition in Goa as it cuts through Western Ghats forest.
In April this year the NWBL had cleared the diversion of forest land on the Goa side of the project leading to a hue and cry in Goa. The Karnataka side of the project is also awaiting clearances from the National Board of Wildlife.
The Tinaighat – Castlerock – Caranzol stretch passes through the Dandeli - Anshi Tiger Reserve on the Karnataka side. The State Chief Wildlife Warden in his recommendations has imposed certain conditions. Being a tiger reserve, the appraisal of the project by the NTCA is required.
The Member Secretary of the NTCA, who was present in the meeting, stated that the report on the proposed project would be submitted within fifteen days.
“After discussions, the Standing Committee decided to defer the project till the receipt of the report from the NTCA, for further consideration in the matter,” the minutes recorded.
The railways have said that there is no alternative to diverting forest land as the alignment invariably has to pass through the protected area and that the existing single railway line is saturated.
Recently, Union Minister of State for Railways Suresh Angadi had stated that doubling of the railway line between Castle Rock and Vasco is expected to be a reality soon, as the land acquisition issue is expected to be resolved soon with the intervention of Goa government.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
* SWR is seeking to double the railway line between Tinaighat in Karnataka and Vasco da Gama in Goa as part of a larger project to double the railway line that runs between Hospet and Vasco da Gama
*While Hospet to Tinaighat section has been completed, the Tinaighat to Vasco section is now being undertaken and has been met with opposition in Goa as it cuts through Western Ghats forest
*In April, the NWBL had cleared the diversion of forest land on the Goa side of the project leading to a hue and cry in Goa
* Karnataka side of the project is also awaiting clearances from the National Board of Wildlife.
* Tinaighat- Castlerock- Caranzol stretch passes through the Dandeli - Anshi Tiger Reserve on the Karnataka side
