The wait for the ambitious Hubli–Ankola New Railway line project in Karnataka, which proposes to pass through tiger corridors connecting Kali Tiger Reserve with Sharavathi Sanctuary in the State and entails diversion of a good chunk of forest land besides felling of 2 lakh trees, got extended further with a central top wildlife committee deciding to have a relook at the project's implication on the fragile region. Tigers, as well as elephants, frequent the habitat.
In this regard, as per direction by the Standing Committee of the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL), a panel has been set up which is taking views of public representatives, NGOs, and other stakeholders in the region. The panel will submit its report within two-and-a-half months.
The proposal for wildlife clearance for the project involving the diversion of an area of 595.64 hectares of forest land has been pending since 2017. The Standing Committee of the NBWL noted that the site appraisal committee of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had not recommended the project in the initial stage, “considering its wider ecological ramifications on the fragile Western Ghats and its impacts on future persistence of many endangered species, and recommended its complete abatement.” The proposed project is falling in a continuous area between Bhadra Tiger Reserve and Kali Tiger Reserve and is used by elephants for crossing at several places. This area is inhabited by tigers and their estimated number in this area is six. “Finally, after lots of discussions, the proposal was recommended by the State Board for Wild Life and Karnataka Government,” as per minutes of the meeting held in June this year.
The members of the Standing Committee of NBWL also noted that since the case has gone through under the legal scanner of the State High Court and Supreme Court too, it has to be examined carefully and therefore suggested for the constitution of a committee. One of the members, Dr H S Singh, had suggested that the views of local NGOs may also be taken into consideration by the Committee to be constituted to examine the proposal, survey the area, assess the impacts of the project on forest and wildlife etc.
The committee comprises Additional Director General of Forests, (Forest Conservation) Union Environment Ministry, Dr HS Singh and Dr R Sukumar, both members of the Standing Committee of NBWL, representatives of Indian Institute of Technology, Dharwad, Director, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and Director General, IFCRE, Dehradun as members and Deputy Inspector General of Forests (Wildlife) of the Ministry.