Team Herald
MARGAO: The Regional Empowered Committee (REC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has upheld the abeyance order disallowing the diversion of 15.6 hectares of forest land for the Kulem-Margao railway double tracking project. This decision, which rejects the Goa government’s request to remove the order, has been welcomed by environmentalists who warn that the project threatens the fragile ecosystem of the Western Ghats.
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Goa Foundation (GF) director Claude Alvares stated, “The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) appointed by the Supreme Court had strongly criticised the railway double-tracking project, finding no justification for jeopardising the fragile ecosystem of the Western Ghats. The Wildlife Institute of India should consider the CEC recommendations. Also, the High Court of Bombay at Goa has directed the State government to establish a Tiger Reserve that includes the proposed railway line.”
The Federation of Rainbow Warriors (FRW) founder and environmentalist Abhijit Prabhudessai added, “We welcome the REC decision and have asked them to study the Kulem to Kalem stretch as well. The Supreme Court has clearly stated that this project is meant solely for coal transport—from Krishnapatnam, no less. It is evident that the Goa government is pushing this project for marginal extra profit, against the public interest. People of Goa have been fighting this since 2015, and all credit goes to the common man who recognises the threat to our state and the world.”
Goencho Ekvott founder member Orville Dourado Rodrigues commented, “It is shocking that, despite widespread opposition to the proposed South Western Railway (SWR) double tracking – designed primarily for coal, coke, and hazardous cargo – the Goa government tacitly supported RVNL’s request to reconsider the abeyance order. The REC not only rejected this request but also directed an expanded study on the Kulem-Kalem section, part of the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary. We demand that the CEC recommendations not be diluted to suit corporate greed at the expense of our environment. Why push for double tracking through pristine areas when the bottleneck at Mollem remains unresolved?”
Amche Mollem Campaign volunteer Malaika Mathew Chawla stated, “This decision is in favour of the people of Goa and our rich cultural and ecological heritage. Thousands have consistently raised their voices to safeguard Mollem’s forests and biodiversity, and this is a win for all of them. I hope the REC’s decision will positively impact the ongoing railway double tracking work in villages like Velsao, Pale, Issorcim, Arossim, Cansaulim, and Utorda.”
