Team Herald
PANJIM: The Standing Committee of National Board of Wildlife (NBW) has given green signal to doubling of existing railway track from Castlerock to Kulem and Kulem to Margao covering a total 135 hectares of the protected area of Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary.
The Standing Committee, during its meeting held last month, has recommended the project for the wildlife clearance (WCs) to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).
The project has already been cleared by the State Wildlife Board during its meeting held on December 16, 2019. Around 22,000 trees would be cut to make way for the project.
The project proponent had approached NBW for use of 137.389 ha from Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary for doubling of existing railway line from Castlerock to Kulem and from Kulem to Margao.
The State Chief Wildlife Warden had recommended the proposal with the condition that the railway authorities may explore the option of putting some gate in tunnel which can be opened through some mechanical / electronically controlled switches before train arrival so as to ensure the wild animals are not trapped in some of long tunnels when no train is there in tunnel.
“The project proponent will comply with all the conditions imposed by the State Chief Wildlife Warden. The approved Animal Passage Plan should be implemented by the project proponent,” the committee said while proposing the project for WC.
The project proponent is also directed to submit the annual compliance certificate on the stipulated conditions to the State Chief Wildlife Warden.
