PANAJI
A fresh move by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) Dehradun to recruit domain experts and scientists purportedly to undertake work to prepare an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) on wildlife habitat for the track doubling project between Tinaighat and Kulem has sent activists opposing the project citing danger to the Mollem National Park in a tizzy.
The WII has advertised seeking applications from experts who will be recruited for the EIA preparation project for 12 months.
The Institute is likely to undertake a cumulative impact assessment on wildlife habitat and ecological values in the Western Ghats likely due to the track doubling project.
Indicative as it is that the Railways are poised to re-apply for the National Board for Wild Life (NBWL) nod for the project which had been scrapped by the Supreme Court of India although the apex court had permitted re-application.
Meanwhile, #AmchemMollem the collective of greens, youth and professionals opposed to the track-doubling and two other linear projects through Mollem and the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary has called for urgent action from its sympathizers to raise their voice against the project again.
Citing the Supreme Court appointed Central Empowered Committee's report that the double tracking project should be scrapped as it had no ecological or economic justification, #AmchemMollem said: "We need to raise our voices now."
It said WII, Dehradun had already done the original EIA which was flawed for the same project.
"Scientists came together, thoroughly studied the EIA and found severe loopholes, incorrect reporting and mis-identification of species in Mollem," it said, adding that WII was previously appointed to suggest mitigation measures which again were critiqued by the scientists and found to be irrational, ignoring science on animal movement.
"Blocking the railway's permissions through the forest is important not just for ecology but also for livelihoods of our heritage villages," #AmchemMollem said and urged its supporters to spread the word.
