Bhubaneswar: After much dilly-dallying, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change has given the Forest Clearance for the Khurda-Bolangir Railway line between Km 112 to 180. The clearance by the Center for the 68 kilometers line comes after many follow ups and recommendations by the Government of Odisha in the last few years. The 112 to 180 Kilometer stretch forms an important part of the ongoing project and needed the forest clearance on time for early completion. While the Government of Odisha completed the acquisition of government and private land for the project on time and handed over to the Railways, the much needed Forest clearance was pending with the MoEF. The letter written by the Odisha Chief Secretary to the MoEF makes it clear that the ball was with the Center and the forest clearance was pending with the MoEF. The revised Forest Diversion Proposal for the said stretch was filled by the State Government in 2020. The compliance of observation of 75th REC was also sent to IRO, MoEF on 28.11.2022. As the stretch between Km 112-180 is an ongoing project, as per Para 44(e) of the Supreme Court judgment dated 03.06.2022, construction of Railway line between Km.112-180 is permitted by PCCF, HoFF, Odisha. But the MoEF did not take initiative to accord the required clearances on time.
The Railway Minister wants to take the credit for the forest clearance accorded to the project. But the efforts of the state Government are behind the clearance. The Clearance has been issued as per the recommendations of the Government of Odisha made many times in the last few years. The latest letter written by Odisha Chief Secretary Suresh Mahapatra to the Ministry of Environment and Forests makes it clear that the Center and the MoEF are in fault and responsible for the delays.
When it comes to the development of Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has always been ahead than others. His historic decision to share the costs of important projects and provide land free of cost to the railways is unique and never seen anywhere in India. Odisha is also the state from where the Indian Railways gets its lion’s share of revenues. Despite recognizing the proactive efforts of the Government of Odisha, the Center and the leaders of Bharatiya Janata Party are just beating hollow drums to divert the issues.
While the implementation of the Railway Project lies with the Ministry Of Railways, the responsibility for doing it on time also lies with the Center. Despite all help by the State Government, the project is progressing slowly for years. Keeping in view the merits of the project and Center’s dilly dallying in allocating sufficient funds for the project, the Government of Odisha decided to partner the project by giving the required land free of cost and also sharing 50 percent of the cost of the project.
The Khurda Road- Bolangir railway line is an important infrastructure project in Odisha that will usher in a new era of development once completed. First approved in 1994-95, the 301 Kilometer long railway line will connect Khurda, Nayagarh, Boudh, Kandhamal, Subernapur and Bolangir districts and will drastically reduce the travel time. The implementation of this east and west Odisha connecting train line has been delayed by many years and witnessing slow progress.