Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1481, to be answered on 09.02.2026, concerns the environmental impact of doubling a railway track between Karnataka and Goa. Mr. Pathan Yusuf asked the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change about the project's impact on tiger habitats, elephant corridors, ecologically sensitive areas, the basis for forest clearances given a negative impact report by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) on flora and fauna, and the rationale for double track clearances given 341 animal deaths between February and April 2023 from the single track.
Minister of State Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh replied that proposals for using forest land for non-forestry purposes are assessed based on their merits, including direct and indirect impacts on forests and wildlife. Projects in high conservation or biodiversity areas are meticulously examined. When forest land diversion is unavoidable and justified, the Central Government considers proposals contingent on adequate mitigation measures, including site-specific Wildlife Management Plans and wildlife underpasses/overpasses. The Ministry has also developed the "Eco-friendly Measures to Mitigate Impacts of Linear Infrastructure on Wildlife" guidance document via the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). This document outlines standard mitigation measures for linear infrastructure projects to minimise adverse wildlife habitat impacts.
Key Entities Referenced
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE: The central government ministry responsible for answering questions regarding environmental impacts of railway projects.
Wildlife Institute of India (WII): An organization whose report on the negative impact on flora and fauna by railway projects is referenced.
Karnataka: A state where the proposed railway line doubling project is located.
Goa: A state where the proposed railway line doubling project is located.
"Eco-friendly Measures to Mitigate Impacts of Linear Infrastructure on Wildlife": A guidance document developed by the Ministry to mitigate adverse impacts on wildlife due to linear infrastructure projects
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1481
TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
Environmental Impact due to doubling of Railway Track
1481. MR PATHAN YUSUF:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is true that the proposed doubling of railway line between Karnataka and Goa passes
through a critical tiger habitat, an elephant corridor and ecologically sensitive areas;
(b) the reason for granting of forest clearances by the Government despite the Wildlife Institute of
India’s (WII) report highlighting the negative impact on flora and fauna; and
(c) the rationale behind granting clearances for the double track when the single track itself has
caused 341 animal deaths between February and April 2023 as per WII findings and the details
thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (c) The proposals for use of forest land for non-forestry purposes received from the State
Governments are examined on their merits, including assessment of their direct and indirect impacts
on forests and wildlife. Infrastructure projects proposed in areas of high conservation value or rich
biodiversity are examined meticulously.
In cases where diversion of forest land is unavoidable and duly justified, such proposals are considered
by the Central Government, subject to the implementation of adequate mitigation measures, including
the preparation of site-specific Wildlife Management Plans and the provision of wildlife
underpasses/overpasses, as applicable.
The Ministry has also developed a guidance document through the Wildlife Institute of India, titled
“Eco-friendly Measures to Mitigate Impacts of Linear Infrastructure on Wildlife”, which prescribes
standard mitigation measures to be adopted for linear infrastructure projects in order to minimise
adverse impacts on wildlife and their habitats.
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