The EIA report for the railway double tracking project through Mollem National Park was created by the Indian Institute of Science ( @iiscbangalore).

Here is everything wrong with the EIA report for the railway double tracking project

#SaveMollem
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Misidentification of species, under-reporting and incorrect reporting of species, unscientific methods of study, gaps in the wildlife study, and gaps in the study of livelihoods of Mollem residents...

The EIA report has several shocking mistakes

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Additionally, there is a major UNACKNOWLEDGED conflict of interest

One of the authors of the EIA is also a member of the National Board for Wildlife- the same body that granted the forest clearance for the railway project in Mollem

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The creation of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) reports is an important legal process to understand the potential impacts a proposed project can bring to the biodiversity and humans living in the vicinity of the project.

The railway project EIA has many shortcomings.
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The presence of the tiger was not explicitly stated in the report!

But renown environmentalists have said that the presence of tigers in Mollem is well known to both forest officials and locals
(5/n) https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/presence-of-big-cat-known-since-a-decade-now-irrefutable-proof/articleshow/69404120.cms

Only 23 species of mammals were reported, when in fact, there are nearly 60 species found in Mollem.

The report used INADEQUATE and UNSCIENTIFIC sampling efforts for mammals and hence the under-reporting.

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Species that were previously not known to Mollem (or Goa) were added to the report.

What does this mean?

Either that the report was poorly made or that Mollem is very special and hence, must be protected.

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For example, the Large Indian Civet was mentioned in the report.

Dear @iiscbangalore, this species is not found in the Western Ghats but in north-east India

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Why are our lawfully protected forest areas given forest clearances based on faulty EIAs? Why was the conflict of interest not acknowledged? @iiscbangalore

@lifeindia2016 @LiveLawIndia

#SaveMollem #AmcheMollem
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A big thank you to the researchers who studied this EIA based on which the forest clearance was granted. Special thanks to @sayan12011991, @manishchandi, @nandinivelho, Girish Punjabi, @anishafishtoe, @VighneshShind19 and the other researchers on the peer review.

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