Proposed Hubballi-Ankola Railway Line Requires 595.64 Acre Forest Land, 2 Lakh Trees: Report

Hubballi: As many as 2 lakh trees are expected to be cut down hurting sensitive eco-balance in Karwar and Yellapur forest divisions to construct a new railway line between Hubballi and Ankola, said a three member committee report. The three member committee was formed under the direction of National Green Tribunal (NGT) by Forest and Environment Ministry to submit a report on proposed railway line between the two towns. 

According to the committee report, proposed 168.28 km broad gauge railway line requires 595.64 acre forest land and the as many as 2 lakh trees should be cut down for the proposed line hurting ecological balance of the region and Western Ghats. The planned railway line is expected to adversely impact the wildlife of the Western Ghats, the report said.

The plan requires 34 underground tunnels and 9 railway stations in eco sensitive areas of Karwar and Yallapur forest areas. Additional land than previously estimated is essential to construct the new railway stations, tunnels and other essential requirements, the committee added. The report has also observed that such a railway line doesn’t has significance in the area as the most of the areas of the region is well connected by national highway 64 and other local roads.