Bad news has surfaced for wildlife conservation and this time it is from the government side. In an intention to allow the railway infrastructure development even in the sensitive forest cover such as tiger reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, thee minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in latest circulate has made it clear that Forest Conservation Act (FCA) 1980 will not applicable on the railways.
Journalist Vijay Pinjarkar from Times of India reports that the MoEF&CC had issued a similar circular back on May 21, 2019 making it clear that the FCA act will not be applicable on the railway lands. Now, another circular issued on March 10, 2022 by Assistant Inspector General(Forest conservation division) Sandeep Sharma states that even the Wildlife (Protection) Act (WPA) 1972 will not be applicable on the railways if it is Right on Way(ROW).
The minister said that this decision has been taken after consulting the law and judiciary minister and will be applicable on the railways only. This circulars reads “For executing or maintaining of railway works on railway owned land within ROW under Section11 of the Railways Act 1989, notwithstanding the apex court directions, the need for obtaining the central government permission under Section 2 of the FCA will not arise.”
It further says, “Section 11 of the Railways Act would also operate for execution or maintenance of railway works within the ROW, notwithstanding anything to the contrary of the WPA, 1972. The construction activity will include tracks, bridges, culverts, passages for wild animals, elephant corridors, and the like. These would be provided wherever necessary, as per the wildlife authorities in the state government. The cost of such construction will be borne by the railways.”
However, wildlife conservationists and experts have sounded a note of caution. The circular is a bid to dilute both the FCA and WPA.
According to the TOI report, The 2,700 sq km Melghat Tiger Reserve (MTR) in Amravati district will be the first casualty where greens are fighting to save one of the oldest tiger reserves.
With input from TOI
pic from Pexels
