HUBBALLI-ANKOLA RAIL PROJECT

This controversial railway project received its clearance on the 20 th of March by the
Karnataka State Wildlife Board (KSWB). The proposed project is said to pass through the
Western Ghats and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It will cause the felling of 2.2 lacs trees.
This move was opposed by the members of the KSWB. A report submitted to the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoFCC) claimed that nearly 80% of the project
passes through dense forest lands. This project will adversely impact the flora and fauna of
the Western Ghats. The line is said to pass through a myriad of forests including evergreen,
semi-evergreen, moist-deciduous and dry deciduous with a dense canopy. Adding to this, the
project will also have an impact on the rainfall in the area. Disruption of vegetation in these
areas will lead to erratic rainfall and leave no scope for rainwater to percolate into the soil.
This will lead to wide-scale soil erosion. That will directly lead to reduced crop yields and
subsequent food shortage. The anthropogenic factors in the area led to a reduction in the
forest cover from 98.7% to 83.14% by 2010. This railway line if implemented will further
reduce this number by a galloping 16.23%. Further, the construction of this railway line will
increase the chances of a landslide in North Karnataka by 96%. It will also induce the loss of
2.5 lac ton of carbon removal due to the loss of vegetation in the area. Deforestation in this
area might also lead to a flooding and droughts in the Ghats.

On the 18th of June, the Karnataka HC restrained authorities from taking any action on this
controversial project. On the 14th of July, the interim relief granted earlier was extended. A
division bench passed the order while hearing a PIL filed by the Project Vruksha Foundation.
It said that no steps shall be taken in pursuance of the permission granted by the State Board
for wildlife to create a diversion of 595.64 hectares of forest land to construct the railway
line. The petitioner also submitted that the area falls under the Eco-sensitive zone of the Kali
Tiger Reserve which also cuts across the elephant and tiger corridor. The plea prays for
quashing the decision taken in the 14th meeting of the state board for wildlife recommending
wildlife clearance to the project. Direct the Standing Committee of National Board for
Wildlife not to consider the said decision as the final recommendation of the Karnataka SWB
in their subsequent meetings.