RailEnquiry

The killer railway tracks of North-Bengal causing repeated jumbo deaths is to figure prominently in the forthcoming Standing Committee meeting of National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) scheduled on Wednesday.  The issue of construction of Gaduli to Hajipur-Odma-Khavda-Kunariya-Dholavira-Maovana Highway by the Gujarat Government through the Flamingo City involving diversion of 79.474 ha of forest land in Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary and Wild Ass Sanctuary is also slated to be discussed.  One of the other important agenda lined up for the proposed meet is the construction  of double laning of railway line proposed by Dedicated Freight corridor in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Maharashtra. This falls within 10 km radius of Tungareshwar Sanctuary. There is also a proposal for seeking permission for control of fencing and patrol road along the Indo-Bangladesh Border in Dampa Tiger Reserve, in Mizoram.   Another agenda includes diversion of 80.507 ha of forestland within 10 kms from boundary of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary for construction of 444 MW Vishnugarh-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project in district Chamoli, Uttarakhand.  According to well-placed sources, the incidents of jumbo deaths  in North Bengal is to be discussed . Despite series of meetings between the Forest Department  and the Railways, there has been little improvements at the ground level. These areas are not only home to about 150 elephants, but also have Royal Bengal Tigers. There have been about 16-20 jumbo deaths within two years, the latest being that of an elephant calf early this month.  There is about 168 km stretch of rail tracks running across sensitive forest and corridor areas, across the forests of North Bengal. The track is an important route providing connectivity to North-East.    The well-placed sources,  further informed  that thee is another  broad gauge  track proposed from Siliguri to Alipurdwar which would add to the existing threat particularly endangering the Mahananda Wildlife sanctuary. The soil/ rocks in the forest blocks are also prone to land slide. These areas fall in low mountain areas and are very rich in flora and fauna.  There is an alternate route that can be taken: This track may be constructed on the other bank of the river Teesta instead of making tunnels through the very unstable rock layers of the forest blocks within Mahananda WLS, pointed out the sources.