Rejected at least 10 times by statutory bodies, the mega Hubballi-Ankola rail project has now ostensibly met the same fate at the hands of a seven-member inspection committee of the National Board for Wildlife.
The committee’s report suggested revisions to the project proposal, and it was discussed at the 71st meeting of the NBWL held on December 29 and chaired by Bhupender Yadav, union minister of environment, forest and climate change. At this meeting, several significant changes were suggested, including doubling of the railway line, hinting at the possibility of acquisition of more forest land.
