SC rejects clearance for doubling of railway line from Castle Rock to Kulem

The Supreme Court on Monday accepted a recommendation by the court appointed Central Empowered Committee against doubling of railway line from Castle Rock in Karnataka to Kulem in Goa for being detrimental to the internationally recognised biodiversity hotspot of the Western Ghats.

A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and B R Gavai rejected the clearance of the project granted by the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife.

Acting on a plea by NGO Goa Foundation, the top court, however, said this would not preclude Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd to carry out a detailed analysis on the impact of the proposed project on the bio-diversity and ecology of the protected areas under