Summary:
Ahmedabad, Sep 21 (PTI) The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday directed the Indian Railways to file a detailed affidavit on the impact of the proposed broad-gauging and electrification of railway track passing through the Gir Sanctuary on the Asiatic lions and other wildlife in the region.
The division bench of Justices N V Anjaria and A P Thaker observed that the measures to protect the Asiatic lions, the pride of not just Gujarat but the entire Asia, is not only expected from the Gujarat government, but from all the authorities who operate within the sanctuary area.
The bench directed the Railway authorities to file an affidavit exhaustively dealing with all aspects of the impact the railway line passing through the Sanctuary has had.
The court was hearing a civil application on the impact of the proposed broad gauging and track electrification of the railway lines and laying of pipelines for gas, oil and optical fibres.
The Railway authorities are expected to make their stand clear by furnishing on oath details about the present railway line passing in the area, the frequencies thereof, the density of passengers, mishaps, if any, which have occurred involving lions because of the running of the trains, the court said in its order.
Apart from this, the Railways should also give details of the proposed broad-gauging of the lines and possible effects on the wildlife in the sanctuary in general, and the species of Asiatic lions in particular, it stated.