Nagpur: In a major turnaround, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has asked Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, to once again submit mitigation plan for the controversial gauge conversion project through Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR). The directive comes even though an earlier NTCA panel constituted by MoEFCC had already submitted a final report, stating that upgradation of line through MTR is not feasible.
South Central Railway (SCR) has taken up gauge conversion work between Akola and Khandwa (176km). Of this, 39km existing alignment falls between tiger reserve and its buffer. In a letter issued by NTCA’s deputy inspector general Nishant Verma on June 21, WII has been asked to submit mitigation plan in accordance with its guidelines for ‘Eco-friendly measures to mitigate impacts of linear infrastructure’.
The letter has been issued despite a four-member group of NTCA constituted by MoEFCC to study feasibility of the project in January this year submitting a final report, stating that upgradation of line through MTR is not feasible.
Wildlife conservationists feared the NTCA seems to be under pressure from the BJP government at the Centre to let the project proceed. “This is evident from the fact that highways minister Nitin Gadkari and railway minister Piyush Goyal met on June 18 at Delhi to resolve the issue. Based on Attorney General of India’s (AGI) opinion, both gave the go ahead to the project. On June 19, the Railway Board issued order to start work, and on June 21, NTCA wants WII to submit mitigation plan. The letter wants the matter to be treated as urgent. One has to read between the lines considering how MoEFCC is working,” said a section of conservationists, who are keeping a watch on the turn of events.
NTCA member-secretary Anup Kumar Nayak told TOI, “We have asked mitigation measures from WII subject to positive decision of the standing committee of National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).”
Nayak did not confirm whether the latest January NTCA report was tabled before the NBWL. WII director VB Mathur was not available for comments.
The reference of NTCA letter to WII on mitigation plan is based on February 7, 2018, meeting held in Delhi where the report was presented.
Interestingly, the NTCA letter is marked to WII scientist K Ramesh, and MTR field director MS Reddy, both of whom were part of the NTCA study group. The other two members were Nagabhushana Rao, deputy chief engineer (construction), South Central Railway (SCR), and Rajendra Garawad, NTCA, Bengaluru,
In their report, the study group had said the project through tiger reserve was not feasible. “There are limited possibilities of providing mitigation measures and wildlife crossings,” the group said.
“Yet, NTCA again asking WII to formulate mitigation measures is an indication that these agencies were under pressure not to be a hurdle,” said Akola honorary wildlife warden Devendra Telkar.
On the contrary, Akola MP Sanjay Dhotre, who prevailed over Gadkari to push the project, said, “There is no option than to proceed with the project through the reserve. All mitigation measures will be taken as suggested by the wildlife department.”
