Lok Sabha Question No. 2921 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-02
Subject: Hubli-Ankola Rail Line
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: RAMACHANDRAN MULLAPPALLY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2921 TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.08.2017

## HUBLI-ANKOLA RAIL LINE

## 2921. SHRI  MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether final clearance has been obtained for the Hubli-Ankola Railway line and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the  terms,  if  any,  stipulated  by  the  Environment  Ministry  for proceeding with the project;
- (c) the extent of forest land estimated to be affected by the project; and
- (d) the steps proposed to be taken to protect and preserve the Tiger Reserves on this route?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## ANSWER (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) to (d):   A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (d)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2921 BY SHRI MULLAPPALLY RAMACHANDRAN TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 02.08.2017 REGARDING HUBLI-ANKOLA RAIL LINE

(a)  to  (d):  Hubli-Ankola  new  line  project  is  held  up  on  account  of forestry  clearances.  In  this  regard,  revised  proposal  for  diversion  of 595.64 Ha  forest land was  submitted  to Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEF & CC) by Government of  Karnataka  vide  their  letter  dated  24.10.2016  with  a  request  to obtain  and  communicate  (Stage-I)  approval  of  Government  of  India under  Section  2  of  Forest  (Conservation)  Act,  1980.  The  eighteenth meeting  of  Regional  Empowered  Committee  (REC)  was  held  on 05.05.2017 and examined the proposal as well as the site inspection report  of  committee.  After  due  deliberations,  the  REC  informed  the State  Government/User  Agency  to  submit  detailed  remarks  on  site inspection  report,  current  objectives  of  proposed  Railway  line  for examining  the  project  on  similar  lines  as  the  set  objectives,  cost benefit  analysis  which  also  should  include  the  cost  involved  in transport  through  alternative  routes  and  also  by  alternate  mode  of transportation.

Detailed remarks for the site inspection report, current objectives of proposed line, detailed cost benefit analysis were submitted to MOEF &  CC,  Southern  Zone  through  Government  of  Karnataka  vide  letter dated  05.06.2017  and  15.06.2017.    Nineteenth  Meeting  of  REC  was held on 10.07.2017.  The REC examined the essential details furnished by the State Government and Railways again in response to decision

taken  in  earlier  meetings  with  regard  to  the  objectives  the  project, cost benefit analysis, alternatives examined, revised details of enumeration  of  trees  to  be  felled,  Compensatory  Afforestation  etc. After detailed deliberations on the above issues, the REC recommended  the  project,  subject  to  the  following  conditions  as communicated  by  MOEF  &  CC/Regional  Office/Bangalore  vide  letter dated 11.07.2017:-

- (i)  The  user  agency  to  strive  for  increasing  the  number  of  tunnels (from suggested 25) and viaducts.
- (ii)   User  agency  should  revise  mitigation  plan  in  consultation  with the Forest   department including more number of under passes.
- (iii) It is seen that the alignment passes through Bedthi Conservation  Reserve,  Hombill  Conservation  Reserve,  overlapping Buffer  Zone  area  of  Anshi-Dandeli  Tiger  Reserve  and  Elephant Corridors.    User  agency  should  submit  appropriate  proposal  for consideration  by  the  Standing  Committee  of  National  Board  for Wildlife.
- (iv)  Hard  copies  of  the  enumeration  list  of  trees  to  be  felled  to contain species-wise, girth-wise details which shall be submitted by the Karnataka Forest Department.
- (v) The Compensatory Afforestation scheme to be prepared in detail clearly mentioning the degraded area or other revenue land surrendered by Kudremukh Project.

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