Goa Submits Second Request for Forest Land Diversion in Railway Project
The state of Goa has formally submitted a renewed and second request to the Union environment ministry's Regional Empowered Committee (REC) based in Bengaluru. This official submission seeks explicit permission for the diversion of crucial forest land specifically designated for the ambitious Kulem-Madgaon railway double-tracking infrastructure project.
Background of the Initial Rejection and Renewed Efforts
In a significant development from March of the previous year, the REC had decisively rejected Goa's initial formal request. That request aimed to revoke an abeyance order that currently prohibits the diversion of approximately 15.6 hectares of protected forest land essential for the Kulem-Madgaon double-tracking construction work.
Now, in a concerted and strategic move, the state government, in close collaboration with Goa's own forest department and acting on behalf of the South Western Railway's executing agency, Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), has once again formally attempted to request the revocation of this restrictive abeyance order. This critical request is scheduled to come up for detailed discussion and deliberation before the REC in the very near future.
Previous Committee Directives and Legal Contentions
Last year, the committee not only outright rejected the state government's plea but also issued a directive. It instructed both the state and RVNL to substantially expand their scope of environmental study for the proposed railway section from Kulem to Kalem. This directive was issued specifically "as it is also part of the ecologically sensitive Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary."
The primary contention presented by the user agency, RVNL, before the REC was a legal argument. They asserted that the Supreme Court's orders, which stayed approvals for the broader railway double-tracking project, were only legally binding for the specific proposal concerning the section from Castlerock to Kulem. However, the REC did not accept this legal interpretation and argument from the railway authorities.
Land Breakdown and Wildlife Board Recommendations
Within Goa, the total land proposed for the project spans 138.3 hectares. A detailed breakdown reveals that 1.9 hectares is classified as private forest land, 14.4 hectares falls within the protected boundaries of the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary, a substantial 113.8 hectares is located inside the Bhagwan Mahavir National Park, and the remaining 8.2-hectare area is situated in the North Goa forest division.
Historically, the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife had recommended the proposals for both the Goa portion and the Karnataka portion. These recommendations were made during its meetings held on December 17, 2019, and January 5, 2021, respectively.
Supreme Court Intervention and Current Status
Following legal intervention by the environmental NGO Goa Foundation, which approached the Supreme Court, the court's Central Empowered Committee recommended the revocation of the permission previously granted by the NBWL's standing committee. This permission was for the doubling of the railway track passing through the ecologically-sensitive Western Ghats, spanning from Tinaighat-Castlerock in Karnataka to Kulem in Goa. The project involves approximately 120.8 hectares of land from the Bhagawan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa and an additional 10.5 hectares in the neighboring state of Karnataka.
The entire matter was subsequently referred to the environment ministry's regional office on May 12, 2022. Following this referral, the ministry itself issued official directions to keep in abeyance the approval that had been initially issued by its regional office, leading to the current impasse and Goa's renewed efforts to secure the necessary clearances.
