Hubballi-Ankola rly line is outside ESZ: Samiti

Hubballi: Railway Seva Samiti Uttara Kannada has alleged that some organisations are trying to systematically undermine the Hubballi-Ankola Railway Project (HARP).
Speaking to reporters here on Friday, Samiti’s secretary Rajeev Gaonkar said that it’s being done through a planned misinformation campaign aimed at spreading inaccurate facts and wrong information about the HARP.
“Some vested interests are using such inaccurate information not only to undermine HARP but also to defer its progress through various legal tactics. Hence, our Samiti is trying to provide correct information on this important railway project thereby empowering the local community and public to support the economic progress of this region,” he added.
Advocate Akshay Kolle said some organisations are stating that the HARP line passes through the 10km default Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of Kali Tiger Reserve (KTR).
“However, the factual situation is different and the draft ESZ notification is published in the official gazette which sets the ESZ boundary at 7km. The concept of 10km default ESZ was limited only to three protected areas of Karnataka as per a Supreme Court order in TN Godaverman case. Technical experts have researched and studied the location of HARP and mapped it with gazette coordinates using satellite data and imagery. Based on the extensive research and technical studies, it is ascertained that HARP is well-outside the ESZ,” he said.