MONDAY, MAY 06, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Amidst growing opposition to the proposed double-tracking of the South Western Railway track, passing through the protected areas of Mollem Wildlife, the Central government has accorded in-principle approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act for diversion of 1.9089 ha of private forest land along the Kulem-Margao route.
The Bangalore Regional Office of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in a letter to Principal Secretary (Forest) Goa on February 4, informed of the Central government’s in-principle approval under Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, for diversion of 1.9089 ha of private forest land for Kulem-Margao railway doubling track under South Goa Forest Division in favour of South Western Railway-Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd.
The Goa government, via two separate applications on November 21, 2019 and February 10, 2020 had sought permission of the Ministry for diversion of 1.9089 ha of private forest land for the double-tracking project. Accordingly, the proposal was examined by the Ministry’s Regional Empowered Committee at its meeting held on January 27, 2021.
The Ministry has laid down a series of conditions, in which it has said that tree felling shall be restricted to the barest minimum possible.
“The user agency shall restrict the felling of trees to minimum number in the diverted forest land and the trees shall be felled under the strict supervision of the State Forest Department. The cost of felling of trees shall be deposited by the user agency with the department,” M K Shambhu, Deputy Inspector General of Forest, said.
The Ministry has asked the State to ensure successful raising of compensatory afforestation in double the extent of degraded forest land in the next three years and maintain it thereafter.
In order to address the apprehensions of the people as well as to prevent spillage of ore, coal, etc, the Ministry has asked the project proponent to ensure that all the rakes of the freight trains have spill proof or sealed cover, which is presently absent.
It has to also ensure that there is no damage to the flora and fauna and suitable soil moisture conservation works are undertaken on the either side of the track.
“The forest land proposed to be diverted shall under no circumstances be transferred to any other agency, department or person without prior approval of the Central government,” the Ministry said, restricting changes in the layout plan without their prior approval.
Directing that an annual compliance report be submitted, the Ministry said that the final approval for the diversion would be granted only after fulfillment of the conditions.
The Ministry has also warned to take action in case of violation of the conditions laid down.
