Despite Protests, Govt Diverts 140 Hectares Of Biodiversity Hotspot At Mollem For Rail Project
Over the past few months, the movement to save Mollem has spread across the state, with artists, engineers, architects, environmentalists and other professionals mobilising support at various protests.
In what could be catastrophic for the Mollem ecosystem in Goa, the Centre has approved the diversion of 140 hectares of forest for South Western Railways¡¯ double-tracking project.
"What has raised the hackles of environmentalists and nature lovers is that around 120 hectares ¡ª almost 85 per cent ¡ª lies within the Bhagwan Mahavir National Park, and this move is likely to drastically impact the biodiversity hotspot of Mollem in the ecologically-fragile Western Ghats," says TOI in a report.
Save Mollem
The in-principle approval, issued by the Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC), paves the way for diversion of 120.9ha of the biodiversity hotspot that lies within the Bhagwan Mahavir National Park and Mollem Sanctuary for the Castlerock to Collem stretch, while another 1.9ha and 15.6ha of forest land has been cleared for the Collem to Margao section.
Centre's three infrastructure projects -- Panaji-Belagavi NH expansion and the Tamnar power transmission project, apart from the double-tracking -- could potentially worsen Goa's water woes.
It is also a potential hazard to the endemism and flora and fauna of the region.
Save Mollem
Over the past few months, the movement to save Mollem has spread across the state, with artists, engineers, architects, environmentalists and other professionals mobilising support at various protests.
Environmentalists brace for legal action
Aggrieved over Centre's decision to divert forest land for infrastructure projects, environment activists and groups are gearing up for a long legal battle to save the biodiversity hotspot.
Save Mollem
¡°It¡¯s illegal. We will challenge it in court,¡± Abhijit Prabhudessai of Goyant Kollso Naka (GKN) told TOI.
According to the conditions laid out, the MoEFCC has stipulated that the trees be felled be restricted to a minimum in the diverted forest land and they must be felled under the strict supervision of the state forest department.
