The fate of ambitious Chandigarh-Baddi railway project seems to be in the doldrums again. After the land acquisition controversy, the project now faces green hurdles.
The UT Forest and Wildlife Department has raised objections on the project considering its close proximity to Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary.
Sources said, “The UT Forest and Wildlife Department has rejected the proposal of laying a railway line to connect Chandigarh and Baddi, industrial town in Himachal Pradesh. The proposal has been rejected on the grounds of its close proximity to the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary.”
“The Department has stated that the railway line passing near the Sanctuary would disturb the wildlife inhabited the forest area. The project would have bad consequences on the ecology richness and sensitivity of the Sanctuary area. The Department has recommended that an alternative route for the railway line should be proposed.”
The Department has also stated that the area around the Sanctuary is eco-sensitive zone. And, UT has already mooted a proposal to accord status of eco-sensitive to around 5 km area around the Sanctuary and such constructions can not be allowed in the eco-sensitive zone.
The proposed railway line passes near the Sanctuary’s area. Also, the laying of the railway link between Chandigarh and Baddi would require conversion of forest land into non-forest land.
The Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary spreads over an area of nearly 26 sq km and is inhabited by a large number of sambars, seacocks and endangered species like spotted deer, porcupine, pangolin, wild pigs, cheetal.
As per the census report compiled by the Wildlife Institute of India in the year 2010, the Sanctuary has nearly 1,031 sambars and 920 peacocks.
The Sanctuary forms part of the Sukhna lake catchment area falling in Shivalik hills. It inhibits nine species of mammals and 63 species of birds.
When contacted, UT Conservator of Forests-cum-Chief Wildlife Warden and Director Environment Department, Santosh Kumar said: “The proposed railway track linking Chandigarh to Baddi passes near the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary. And, the Department has stated that the proposal would disturb the wildlife and peaceful environment in the forest area.”
About five years ago, the project had run into controversy over the land acquisition.
The project was caught in a land acquisition tangle as it was to pass through an area earmarked for a mega housing project, Prideasia, a joint venture between Parsvnath Builders and the UT Administration.
The land needed for the rail link is reserved land as it is a part of the UT Forests, and it cannot be given out unless approved by the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment.
The troubled project got back on the track when the city MP Pawan Kumar Bansal took over as Union Railway Minister last year. The project had also caught the attention of Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Shivraj Patil last year who questioned the UT senior officials on why the proposed railway track could not be worked out.
Sources said, “The Administration has also sought legal opinion from the UT legal remembrance into the issue of conversion of forest land in the union territory of Chandigarh.”