Forest dept raises concern over existing, proposed rly tracks passing through PTR
NTCA-APPOINTED COMMITTEE IN 2020 RECOMMENDED THAT NO CONSTRUCTION OF THIRD BROAD GUAGE LINE SHOULD BE CARRIED OUT WITHIN THE CORE HABITAT OF PTR
Forest department and railways are likely to conduct a joint feasibility study to find out alternative route for laying a third broad guage line along the existing double line passing through the critical tiger habitat (CTH) or core area of the Palamau Tiger Reserve (PTR), an official said on Thursday.
In a recent meeting held between forest and railway officials, a consensus between the officials has firmed up for the study. Jharkhand government will soon make a formal request to railway ministry or board to conduct a joint feasibility study to find suitable alternative route in a bid to make the critical area of the tiger reserve undisturbed, officials said.
The reserve, which once had over 70 tigers, has now become tiger less due to various reasons including habitat loss. The big cat population dwindled to 10 in 2010 and nil in 2018. The All India Tiger Estimation (AITE) 2018 report did not record a single tiger in the reserve.
The third broad guage line is proposed between Sonnagar to Patratu. The existing double lines already pass through a stretch of around 11-km between Chhipadohar and Hehegara section, which falls under core area of the reserve.
Principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) Rajiv Ranjan said, “We had a meeting with railway officials on February 18. We raised our concern over existing double line and the proposed third broad guage line. The railway is also planning for a fourth line along the existing tracks. If it happens, the existence of PTR will be finished.”
Ranjan said, “We have demanded the railway officials to explore alternative alignment of the proposed third line and existing lines outside the PTR. However, the officials of Railway Vikas Nigam Limited, the agency which is carrying out the work, said that they are not authorised to consider the proposal. They suggested to consult ministry of railway in this regard.”
He said,“The state will soon make a formal request for a joint feasibility study,” he said.
National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) had conducted a study over the proposed railway line project. “The NTCA appointed committee in its report dated January 11, 2020 had recommended that no construction of the third broad guage line should be carried out within the core habitat of PTR considering its wider ecological ramification on the fragile Palamau landscape and its impacts on recovery and future persistence of many endangered species including tigers,” he said.
Former state wildlife board member DS Srivastava claimed that existing double line has already caused killing of several wild animals in past 10 years. “In August last year, five deer mowed down by goods train in the PTR. In past one decade, around 13 elephants killed on the track,” he said.
“The existing double line has already disturbed habitat of the reserve. The third proposed line would divide the reserve in two parts due to frequency of trains. Wild animals won’t be able to roam freely in the forest.”