NBWL clears Kalem rail yard with conditions; p'yat protests, environmentalists warn of habitat impact
PANAJI
In a major setback to the locals and the environmentalists, the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) has granted its consent to the South Western Railway (SWR) for handling iron ore from the Kalem railway yard located in the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park.
The NBWL, at its meeting held earlier this month, recommended the proposal to the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for grant of wildlife clearance for the use of 0.7616 hectares of forest land from the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS). The clearance, however, comes with conditions, including a strict directive that no damage should be caused to forest land or wildlife habitat during the execution and operation of the activity.
According to the proposal, the SWR intends to handle the loading, unloading and transportation of iron ore at the Kalem railway station yard, which is located inside the protected area. The railway authorities had earlier declined to shift the iron ore handling activity beyond a two-kilometre radius from the sanctuary boundary, citing “lack of feasibility” for relocation.
The State Wildlife Board during its meeting in September had approved the proposal.
During deliberations at the NBWL meeting, members were informed that Kalem railway station has been operational since the Portuguese era and continued functioning under the Southern Maratha Railway, before coming under the South Western Railway following its formation in 2004. The station is presently open for handling inward goods traffic in train loads.
“The station has been handling the transportation of minerals,” the proposal stated adding that the proposal has been recommended by Chief Wild Life Warden, the State Board for Wild Life and forwarded by the State government.
The Board recommended the proposal with a condition that an annual compliance certificate on the stipulated conditions shall be submitted by the User Agency to the State Chief Wildlife Warden and an annual compliance certificate shall be submitted by the State Chief Wildlife Warden to the Government of India.
The Kalem panchayat had strongly objected to the Chief Wildlife Warden’s approval for the project and had even petitioned the Chief Minister, urging the State not to allow iron ore handling activities within the ecologically sensitive area.
Environmentalists and local residents fear that iron ore loading and transportation within the sanctuary could aggravate ecological stress, disturb wildlife movement and increase pollution in the biodiversity-rich Bhagwan Mahavir landscape.
