Concerns as India builds rail network in remote state near China

Environmentalists fear the project threatens thousands of lives in an ecologically fragile region prone to landslides and other natural calamities. ‘Possibility of catastrophic disaster’ But environmentalists fear the railway project could threaten thousands of lives in the ecologically fragile Darjeeling Sikkim Himalayan region that is prone to landslides, earthquakes and other natural calamities. “Natural calamities like earthquakes might not only damage the railway network but the loose layer of rocks as an indirect effect of construction activities and heavy vehicular movement can bring greater destruction to the livelihoods of people and biodiversity in the area.” Former officials of the Geological Survey of India conceded that the area is prone to landslides. “The Environment Impact Assessment report and the related Environmental Management Plans for two hydropower dams on Teesta had admitted that the hillsides around the project site were geologically fragile and any tampering with the slopes might result in severe landslides, increase danger of siltation in the reservoir, and affect the National Highway 31,” Soumitra Ghosh, environmental and forest rights activist, told Al Jazeera. The major interventions like blasting, tunnelling, cutting of the hills, building of roads and townships have impact on the landslide potential of the area.” Alleged violation of the Forest Rights Act Apart from the risks and fears of the natural disasters in the Himalayan region, its forest dwellers also accuse the authorities of starting the railway project without their consent under India’s Forest Rights Act.