PANAJI
The South Western Railway (SWR) has strongly objected to allegations concerning land acquisition proceedings within the Mollem Wildlife Sanctuary. In its submission to the High Court of Bombay at Goa, the SWR sought to file an affidavit to contest the claims.
During the hearing of a PIL writ petition filed by an NGO, the State government also informed the Bench that no permission had been granted for the felling of trees in the area. The counsel representing the SWR reiterated its intention to file an affidavit contesting the claims made in the petition.
Additional Government Advocate Deep Shirodkar, representing the State authorities, categorically stated that neither the government nor the Forest Department had permitted tree felling. He further expressed the need to obtain instructions on the progress of the land acquisition process.
In the previous hearing, the High Court had issued notices to the SWR and the Directorate of Survey and Land Records (DSLR) following allegations by the petitioner of significant encroachment into lands within the Bhagwan Mahavir (Mollem) Wildlife Sanctuary in Kalay village. The encroachment, the petitioner alleged, was purportedly for the purpose of doubling the Hospet-Hubli-Tinaighat-Vasco railway line and associated works.
The petition further challenged the authority of the SWR and DSLR to acquire lands within the wildlife sanctuary or issue any orders about land status, arguing that such actions contravene the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. It highlighted what it claims to be illegal land acquisition proceedings conducted under the Railways Act.
The Division Bench of Justice Bharati Dangre and Justice Nivedita Mehta now directed that all necessary pleadings be completed by April 11 and adjourned the matter for further hearing on April 15.
