Nagpur: After two local MLAs from BJP and Congress, now Shiv Sena MP from Buldhana Prataprao Jadhav has opposed upgradation of meter gauge railway line to broad gauge through Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR) in Amravati district.
Of the 176km Akola-Khandwa railway line project, 39km passes through the tiger reserve. In a letter to railway minister Piyush Goyal last month, Jadhav said people in his constituency have been demanding alternative alignment outside the tiger reserve as it will benefit over 2.50 lakh people.
“Development of infrastructure is necessary for growth of mankind of any region but it should not be at the cost of biodiversity and forest, which will have irreversible effects on the lives of people of the area,” Jadhav said.
Jadhav told TOI that Melghat is over 2,700 sqkm and has presence of 50 tigers besides rich flora and fauna. While implementing such a huge project, stakeholders’ opinion, who are part of my constituency, is necessary.
The Melghat railway line issue seems to have turned into a political battle with local leaders vying to divert the project in their area.
Earlier, on June 18, BJP MP from Akola, Sanjay Dhotre, pushed the project through the tiger reserve with the intervention of highways minister Nitin Gadkari and railway minister Piyush Goyal.
However, BJP MLA Sanjay Kute from Jalgaon-Jamod opposed the upgradation of railway line through the reserve. He was followed by Congress MLA from Buldhana Harshawardhan Sapkal.
Now, Shiv Sena’s has also opposed the project through Melghat. Jadhav said if the project passes through tiger reserve hardly over 6,500 people will benefit but if an alternative route is taken up, 2.50 lakh people will benefit.
Earlier, a report by National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) working group constituted by the Centre has already stated, “As economic growth is important for alleviating poverty and for bringing all-round development, the PAs are required for even more crucial for ecological and environment security of the country.”