Title - Track awaits clearance...

Guwahati : The forest advisory committee of the ministry of environment and forests has asked the Manipur government not to start work on the new broad-gauge railway line from Jiribam to Imphal unless forest clearance is issued.Sources said this was recommended by the committee to the state government when the issue for forest clearance for diversion of 491.67 hectares of forest land for construction of a new broad gauge railway line from Jiribam to Imphal was taken up during a meeting held in the last week of January.The committee after detailed deliberations has asked the state government to inform it about the reasons and names of officials responsible for starting work without obtaining approval under the Forest Conservation Act for diversion of forest land required for the project.The railways had earlier started work in violation of the Forest Conservation Act as they have been doing earth work for tunnelling since 2010 as this is a national project. Work on 15 tunnels had already started.The forest land proposed for diversion contains 8,562 trees, 18,000 Melocanna baccifera bamboos and 2,000 bamboos of other species.The total length of the train line is 125km of which 115.30km will be on forestland and the project does not involve any displacement of human habitation. The length of the railway line under “tunnels” is assessed at 54.62km.

The committee found that according to the site inspection report received from the regional office of the ministry of environment and forests, certain cases pertaining to land compensation are still pending.

It has asked the state government to provide a Survey of India toposheet (short for topographic sheet) indicating location and boundary of forestland proposed to be diverted for railway line and associated structures. It has asked them to prepare a muck disposal plan and documentary evidence in support of settlement of rights in accordance with the provisions of Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers Act, 2006.

A certificate from divisional forest officer in support of suitability of degraded forestland identified for creation of compensatory afforestation in Jiribam forest division is required.

The railways said this is a project of national importance to be executed in hilly terrain covered with dense forests. Terrain difficulties, heavy rainfall and security conditions have made the project a very tough and challenging one. It has informed that there is no way of avoiding forests which come in the way of construction of 125km broad-gauge railway line.