Iron ore handling in Goa wildlife sanctuary: State Wildlife Board recommends placing proposal before national board

An official, requesting anonymity, said, “After deliberations, the State Board for Wildlife, Goa, has recommended the proposal to be submitted before the National Board for Wildlife for their consideration, in line with a recent order of the Supreme Court.”

In July 2023, the High Court of Bombay at Goa had directed the Goa government to notify the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary and other areas, identified by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and in plans prepared by the Goa Forest Department, as a tiger reserve within three months. The Goa government filed a special leave petition challenging the High Court’s order. On September 8, the Supreme Court ordered status quo on all development activities in areas directed to be notified as a tiger reserve. Theapex court asked a Central Empowered Committee to examine the tiger reserve issue and submit a report in six weeks.

In January 2024, the NGO, Goa Foundation, filed a public interest litigation in the High Court, challenging the handling of ore at Kalem railway station, which falls within Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary. In the petition, the NGO argued that loading and unloading activities cause damage to vegetation and wildlife due to the movement of mining trucks in the sanctuary and questioned whether loading and unloading of ore and its transportation could be undertaken without obtaining permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

The High Court directed that the application of the project proponent be considered and decided by the Chief Wildlife Warden in accordance with law and on its merits. Consequently, the Chief Wildlife Warden of Goa directed the user agency to apply for wildlife clearance. The South Western Railway submitted a proposal before the State Board for Wildlife seeking permission to handle ore (loading, unloading and transportation) at Kalem railway station yard in Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in August 2024.

In a meeting of the State Board for Wildlife Goa on March 20, during which the proposal was deferred by the board, Sanvordem MLA Ganesh Gaonkar had said that there is a railway yard around 2 km away from the boundary of the Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary, which was earlier used for handling of iron ore and suggested that the iron ore handling could be done through that yard so the land within the sanctuary is not required to be used for non-forestry purposes. In the same meeting, another board member stressed that though the Pollution Control Board has imposed certain conditions while issuing operational consent, it was essential to consider the overall impact of the proposed operation on wildlife, and proposed forming a committee of experts to study and recommend mitigation strategies.

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