PANJIM
The Mollem National Park, which is a house for two adult tigers and holds potential for harbouring sizable wild cat population in future, is currently facing a serious threat from the upcoming infrastructure project of railway double tracking line from Castlerock in Karnataka to Kulem in Goa and expansion of National Highway 4A -- Anmod to Mollem -- states the recently released Tiger Report 2022.
“Mollem National Park is an important biodiversity area and holds potential for harboring sizable tiger populations in the future. Systematic camera trapping was carried out by the forest department for the first time as a part of the AITE exercise, resulting in photo-captures of two adult tiger individuals. The National Park is facing threats from expansion of linear infrastructures (roads, railway, and power transmission lines) and encroachment,” the report, released earlier this week stated.
“The developmental activities need to be assessed and mitigated with suitable strategies backed by sound and long-term ecological understanding,” it said further.
The State Tiger Report 2022 and the latest Bombay High Court at Goa verdict directing to notify the Mhadei-Mollem-Cotigao protected corridor as tiger reserve, will spell doom for the railway doubling project- for which a fresh Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study through the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has already commenced.
The Goa-Tamnar Transmission Project, has managed to get a relief as it has realigned its proposed electric lines for additional 400 KV feed to Goa along the existing 220 KV line instead of cutting down fresh forest cover through the protected area.
In May 2022, the Supreme Court, accepting the recommendations of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) had revoked and set aside the National Board of Wildlife (NBW) permission to the railway double tracking line and directed the railway authorities to conduct fresh assessment of environment impact and submit a report.
Goa Foundation director Claude Alvares told The Goan that the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) has commenced fresh EIA study and the same is likely to be completed shortly. He said that with the latest High Court order, the project is next to impossible as it comes within the tiger reserve area.
“Tamnar project is now outside the sanctuary. The 400KV line goes much beyond the forest canopy and there is no scope for disturbing the forest,” he said.
On the four-laning of NH 4A from Anmod near the Karnataka border to Mollem, the Apex Court, accepting the CEC recommendation, directed that the height of the road be increased to minimise animal road kills and man-animal conflict, and suggested modification without any much alteration.
