NAGPUR: With the Maharashtra government firm on not permitting the upgradation of the meter gauge railway line through Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR) in Amravati district, the Indian Railways has decided to take an alternative alignment.
MTR is one of the oldest tiger reserves in the country with 50 tigers and with a rich biodiversity and flora and fauna. The issue had figured in the 25th meeting of the Western Zonal Council meeting on June 11. Union home minister Amit Shah had called it to review the progress of various projects and cooperation among various states.
The issue of the stalled railway project of South Central Railway (SCR) was also discussed. However, prior to the meeting, the ministry of the railways (MoR), based on the suggestion of the Maharashtra government gave ‘in-principle’ approval for considering alternative alignment avoiding MTR. The SCR has been advised to take up work on the new line.
Ch Rakesh, chief public relations officer (CPRO) of SCR, confirmed to TOI that the realignment decision has been taken by the MoR. “However, before moving ahead with the revised alignment, we will need support from the MoEFCC and Maharashtra where forest land and revenue land will be needed to expedite the project.”
Top SCR sources involved in the broad-gauge project seeking anonymity said, “We will need 152 hectares of forest land for alternative alignment. This includes 132 hectares in MP and 20 hectares in Maharashtra. As we will leave behind the land in the right of way (ROW) by not taking up up-gradation in the 38.2 km area passing through the tiger reserve, we want the states should be considerate of alternative forest land in lieu of the land which will be diverted for new alignment.”
“By taking up the new route from Akot, Hiwarkhed, Sonala, Jalgaon Jamod, and Usami, we will have to construct 30km of an additional railway line. It will also include a 6.65km-long tunnel. Apart from the 152 hectares of forest land, we will need 400 hectares of revenue land — 130 hectares in MP and 270 hectares in Buldhana district,” the SCR sources said.
On the sudden turnaround by the railways on an alternative, one of the chief engineers added, “Had we gone through the tiger reserve, the issue of wildlife clearance would have cropped up again in the future while taking up doubling. There are SC orders in place too. An alternative route will remove all dead ends and give complete connectivity for future economic development.”
Regarding the cost, the officials said in 2014, the project cost was estimated at Rs 1,454 crore. It will certainly go up by another Rs 700 crore considering the change in land acquisition rules and other cost overruns.
From Maharashtra, the council meeting was attended by the chief secretary and principal secretary (forest), and regional MoEFCC officials. However, none were available for comments. A reply sought from the CMO office was also not forthcoming.
Environment lawyer Manish Jeswani, who had moved Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee (CEC) on the issue, welcomed the decision. “No mitigation measures could have matched the ecological damage to Melghat. The NTCA and WII too had clearly stated that an alternate route is the best mitigation. It’s a win-win situation for both, wildlife and people. The MoR should be hailed.”
Ex-MLA Harshawardhan Sapkal, Buldhana, said, “The alternative alignment is projected to benefit around 2 lakh population from over 125 villages in a 5km radius of the new line. But if the project passes through the tiger reserve hardly 6,500 people would benefit. The new alignment will also be parallel to Samruddhi Mahamarg and boost regional development.”
