KOLKATA: The controversial broad gauge railway track, proposed between Sevoke in Darjeeling and Rangpo in Sikkim, has been given a survey approval. To be conducted by the state forest department, the survey will precede the laying of the track that will run through the Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary. Once the survey is complete, the report will be sent to the Union environment ministry that will revert back
to the state forest department with its feedback. It will be followed by an environment impact assessment (EIA) that will decide whether the project will receive a go-ahead. This was decided at a meeting of the State Wildlife Board on Monday.
Members debated the broad gauge track that will be the second one through the Mahananda. The board, however, shot down a plan to lay telecom optical fibres through the sanctuary. A proposed extension of the NH31A between Sevoke and Ranipal, too, received a survey approval. Nearly 40 hectares of the sanctuary will be taken up if the projects are implemented.
In the last eight years, more than 30 elephants, apart from several leopards and paithons, have been crushed under the wheels of trains running along the 168 km-long Siliguri-Alipurduar track that traverses the Mahananda. In 2010, seven elephants died after being rammed by a train near Banarhat. The accident led to an outcry from wildlife experts and environmentalists. A series of measures were proposed after a meeting with the Union railway ministry. Watch towers had been planned along the track to monitor the movement of elephants and speed restrictions suggested. None of these have, however, been implemented.
A second track could be disastrous for wildlife in Mahananda, felt some members. "The first track has done enough damage. A second one could take things beyond control. But we can't stall developmental projects either. So, let's hope that a balance can be struck," said a member. Others differed. They argued that the second track could be safer since it will run along the Teesta river and won't be cutting through the forest. "But bio-diversity will be affected all the same. We must see if that is serious enough," said Animesh Basu, coordinator, Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation and a member of the wildlife board.
The optical fibre project, however, was summarily rejected by the board. Members felt it will severely affect the environment of the sanctuary and has no developmental value. It was also decided that the EIA will have members of the wildlife board taking part. "It was claimed that the area along which the second track has been proposed, doesn't have significant animal movements. We must do a field study and check if this is true. It would be sad if the track turns out to be another deathtrap for elephants and other animals," said another member.
The NH31A extension will be preceded by a similar survey.
to the state forest department with its feedback. It will be followed by an environment impact assessment (EIA) that will decide whether the project will receive a go-ahead. This was decided at a meeting of the State Wildlife Board on Monday.
Members debated the broad gauge track that will be the second one through the Mahananda. The board, however, shot down a plan to lay telecom optical fibres through the sanctuary. A proposed extension of the NH31A between Sevoke and Ranipal, too, received a survey approval. Nearly 40 hectares of the sanctuary will be taken up if the projects are implemented.
In the last eight years, more than 30 elephants, apart from several leopards and paithons, have been crushed under the wheels of trains running along the 168 km-long Siliguri-Alipurduar track that traverses the Mahananda. In 2010, seven elephants died after being rammed by a train near Banarhat. The accident led to an outcry from wildlife experts and environmentalists. A series of measures were proposed after a meeting with the Union railway ministry. Watch towers had been planned along the track to monitor the movement of elephants and speed restrictions suggested. None of these have, however, been implemented.
A second track could be disastrous for wildlife in Mahananda, felt some members. "The first track has done enough damage. A second one could take things beyond control. But we can't stall developmental projects either. So, let's hope that a balance can be struck," said a member. Others differed. They argued that the second track could be safer since it will run along the Teesta river and won't be cutting through the forest. "But bio-diversity will be affected all the same. We must see if that is serious enough," said Animesh Basu, coordinator, Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation and a member of the wildlife board.
The optical fibre project, however, was summarily rejected by the board. Members felt it will severely affect the environment of the sanctuary and has no developmental value. It was also decided that the EIA will have members of the wildlife board taking part. "It was claimed that the area along which the second track has been proposed, doesn't have significant animal movements. We must do a field study and check if this is true. It would be sad if the track turns out to be another deathtrap for elephants and other animals," said another member.
The NH31A extension will be preceded by a similar survey.
TOI
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