Bhubaneswar: In a major push for ambitious much-awaited Khurda-Bolangir railway project, East Coast Railway (ECoR) has moved Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to obtain Stage-I clearance for diversion of 594.618 hectares land required for the mega project.
After obtaining an order from the Supreme Court of India, the ECoR Authority has submitted a formal proposal seeking Stage-I clearance for diversion of 594.618 hectares land in between 112 to180 KM pertains to Nayagarh and Boudh Forest Divisions for construction of the new railway line project.
There is a standing order (dated 03.06.2022) of the apex court that has put restrictions on construction activities in wildlife sanctuaries and eco-sensitive zones. So, the Railways authority had sought clarification from the SC whether construction and allied activities undertaken by and for Indian Railways and any of its subsidiaries/sister concerns are exempted from the restrictions imposed by the said order, or not.
The court in its order said, “We are, therefore, inclined to allow this application. The order dated 03.06.2022 would not be applicable to the construction and allied activities undertaken by and for Indian Railways and any of its subsidiaries/sister concerns.”
The Supreme Court has directed that before undertaking such activities, apart from the requisite permission from Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the project proponents shall also obtain a permission of the Standing Committee of National Board for Wild Life.
The Standing Committee of the National Board for Wild Life was asked to ensure that necessary mitigation measures in order to protect the wildlife are ensured.
The Government of India itself has issued guidelines on 09.02.2011 thereby specifying the prohibited activities, regulated activities and the permissible activities in Eco-Sensitive Zones. However, the construction activities of the railways is not prohibited activity as per the said guidelines.
According to sources, the ambitious railway project is being delayed due to non-issue of Stage-I forest clearance by the Union Government.
A total of 115.66 km of 289 km length Khurda-Bolangir railway line project has been commissioned so far.
The project is of 289 km length and divided into two parts. First part is from km 0 to km 112 and second part is from km 112 to km 289.
While first part (km 0 to km 112) is fully funded by Railway, second part (from km 112 to km 289) is on cost sharing in which the land is to be provided free of cost by Government of Odisha along with sharing 50 percent cost of construction, the sources said.