Bengaluru
The Karnataka High Court on Friday disposed of a petition filed by environmentalists challenging the move by the South Western Railway zone (SWR) to submit a revised plan on the Hubli-Ankola railway line as per the opinion of the National Board for Wildlife.
The construction of a 164.44-km-long railway line between Hubli and Ankola is underway. A separate PIL was filed by Project Vriksha Foundation and one Giridhar Kulkarni challenging the Karnataka Wildlife Board’s March 20, 2020 clearance for the project. A bench of Justices Prasanna Balachandra Varale and MJS Kamal was hearing the matter.
During the hearing, the counsel representing the Ministry of Railways told the Court that Deputy Chief Engineer, South Western Railway zone, CP Reddy submitted an affidavit.
On June 20, 2020, the High Court had passed an interim order directing the government not to take any further action on the Hubli-Ankola rail project based on a decision taken by the State Board for Wildlife on March 18, 2020. The High Court later extended the interim order. The High Court has now settled it.
South Western Railway Zone, has to follow the directions of National Board for Wildlife. The mitigation plan of the Hubli-Ankola railway project should be prepared in consultation with the Wildlife Centre of India, Dehradun. The railways said the directions of NBWL, Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and Ministry of Climate Change will be followed and the project will be implemented only after obtaining necessary permissions.
The project has been implemented at a cost of Rs 100 crore in areas where there is no forest area for a long time. The South Western Railway zone is waiting for necessary mandatory clearances for implementation of the project.
