Wildlife Board defers decision on Hubballi-Ankola rail project
- The State Wildlife Board deferred its decision on Hubballi-Ankola railway project “indefinitely.” The proposed rail line passes through the evergreen forests of Uttara Kannada.
- The 11th meeting of the State Wildlife Board had triggered a controversy as the government had convened it in a hush-hush manner to approve the project.
- The diversion of 595.64 hectares of evergreen forests especially the forest within the Kali Tiger Reserve will not only wipe out rare flora and fauna but affect flow of water from several rivulets creating an ecological imbalance. The state government had violated all the norms in its zeal to get the clearance for the project. It was even rapped by the centre and National Tiger Conservation Authority for bypassing the state board and directly submitting the proposal to the centre.
- Rs 10 lakh ex gratia for victims of man-animal conflict
- The State Wildlife Board has cleared a proposal to hike the compensation to victims of man-animal conflict to Rs 10 lakh from the present Rs 5 lakh. Even though the forest department was not in favour of the proposal, the Board members urged chief minister to increase the compensation.
