PANAJI
The Supreme Court of India on Monday set aside the National Board of Wildlife clearance granted for the railway double tracking, but left a narrow open window for the railway authorities to reapply for the project.
The SC order passed based on the recommendations of the Central Empowered Committee, a bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao, B R Gavai and Anniruddha Bose cancelled the clearance and upheld the Central Empowered Committee’s findings.
A copy of the order passed by the Supreme Court was not available until late evening.
The Central Empowered Committee had claimed that the project was “not justified” considering traffic projections as well as the cost to the environment.
“CEC does not find any justification for undertaking a project of this nature which will destroy the fragile ecosystem of the Western Ghats which is an internationally recognised Biodiversity hotspot and also one of the most important wildlife corridors of the Country. Moreover this doubling project will only marginally enhance the capacity of the most inefficient section of the Railway Network passing through ecologically sensitive and biodiversity rich tiger Reserve, two Wildlife Sanctuaries and a National Park,” the Central Empowered Committee headed by P V Jayakrishnan, said.
“In these circumstances it is recommended… to revoke the permission granted by the Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife (SC NBWL) for doubling of the railway track,” the CEC had said in its report to the Supreme Court.
The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife in its 56th meeting held on 17.12.2019 decided to recommend the proposal for wildlife clearance for doubling of existing railway line from Castlerock to Kulem, Goa State involving 120.875 ha. of land passing through Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary subject to fulfilling certain conditions and doubling of existing railway track from Kulem to Madgaon, Goa involving 16.514 ha. of land.
The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife in its 57th Meeting held on 07.04.2020 decided to recommend the proposals.
RNVL, a Government of India Mini Ratna undertaking has undertaken execution of the proposed project of doubling of the existing 342 km long rail line from Hospet-Tinaighat-Vasco Mormugao Port in the State of Goa.
The project has been sanctioned by the Ministry of Railways at a cost of Rs 2127 crore with a view to enhance section capacity of existing single line track.
The SWR attempted to impress on the apex court that of the 342 km double track to be constructed in the segment from Castle Rock to Vasco da Gama, 252 km had already been laid. Of the 90 km that were still left, 16 km of double track had already been laid between Sanvordem and Margao as well.
A total of 58 km were left, of which 34 were affected by the National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary. Rest of the track is still embroiled in land acquisition conflicts awaiting resolution.
The Railway authorities had also claimed that this is the only railway line between Hospet and Vasco Port passing through forest land and there is no alternative as the alignment invariably has to pass through the forest.
