Railway Tracks Through Protected Forests Emerge as Major Threat to Karnataka's Wildlife
The Hospet–Londa–Vasco and Miraj–Londa railway corridors, which traverse through the ecologically sensitive Dharwad, Haliyal and Belagavi Territorial Forest Divisions, have transformed into deadly pathways for wild animals over recent years. These railway lines form an integral part of the Kali Tiger Reserve landscape, cutting through some of Karnataka's most biodiverse forest regions that serve as crucial wildlife habitats and natural movement corridors for numerous species.
Alarming Statistics Reveal Scale of Wildlife Casualties
Official forest department records paint a grim picture, documenting nearly 80 wild animal fatalities caused by train collisions along these two railway routes during the past decade. The casualty list includes several endangered and vulnerable species, with gaur, dholes (Indian wild dogs), sloth bears, and sambar deer among the victims. Most alarmingly, the death toll includes two elephants, highlighting the severe threat these railway lines pose to the region's megafauna and overall biodiversity.
A significant concentration of these tragic incidents has occurred within the Belagavi forest division, where a major portion of the railway alignment passes through contiguous forest habitats. These forests support a rich variety of wildlife including tigers, leopards, elephants, gaur, sloth bears, wild dogs, and sambar deer, making the ecological sensitivity of this landscape particularly high.
Legal Intervention and Proposed Mitigation Measures
The gravity of this ongoing wildlife crisis has drawn the attention of the Karnataka High Court through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by dedicated wildlife conservationist Giridhar Kulkarni. The petition seeks effective and immediate mitigation measures to prevent further animal fatalities along these hazardous railway corridors.
Belagavi Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Kranti NE revealed to media that correspondence has been initiated through the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) with South Western Railway authorities. "As part of initial mitigation efforts, artificial camera surveillance systems have been installed along a 42-kilometer stretch using Corporate Social Responsibility funds," the officer stated. "While South Western Railway has assured that train speeds will be restricted to 70 kilometers per hour, we have requested a comprehensive compliance report that includes specific speed regulations for high-speed trains like Vande Bharat Express services operating through these sensitive zones."
Long-Term Solution Faces Implementation Delays
One of the key long-term solutions proposed in Giridhar Kulkarni's PIL involves the development of the Dharwad–Kittur–Belagavi railway line, which is designed to run almost parallel to National Highway 48 (connecting Pune and Bengaluru). According to the petitioner, this alternative alignment would avoid the diversion of forest land and prevent further destruction of wildlife habitats, unlike the existing railway lines that cut directly through dense forests and ecologically fragile areas.
Despite receiving approval from the railway department, this crucial infrastructure project has faced continuous delays for the past six years. The primary obstacles include ongoing challenges in land acquisition processes and the state government's contribution of its share amount for the project implementation. When contacted for comments on the current status, Giridhar Kulkarni declined to elaborate, noting that the matter remains sub judice before the High Court.
The situation underscores the complex challenge of balancing infrastructure development with wildlife conservation in ecologically sensitive regions. As railway networks expand across forested landscapes, finding sustainable solutions that protect both transportation needs and biodiversity becomes increasingly critical for India's environmental future.
