Save Mollem, Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary & Mollem National Park, Sanguem (2026)

20/04/2026

In the past few months, we have been sharing taxa-wise information on what went missing in the Wildlife Institute of India (WII)'s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the railway double-tracking project through Mollem National Park and Kali Tiger Reserve.

In the last of the taxa series, we have the Mammals section. Read about all the species documented in their camera trap-only survey, and all the species that remain to be documented.

Keep reading and sharing. 🐯🐯🐯 Our voices are making a difference!

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11/04/2026

🚨Campaign Update🚨

In the past few months, we have been sharing about the critical gaps in Wildlife Institute of India’s (WII) new EIA. The ‘cumulative impact assessment’ submitted by WII involves the doubling of the railway line through and Kali Tiger Reserve—both part of the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot.

Despite claims of being more comprehensive, the WII EIA repeats many shortcomings of the previous EIA. Check our previous posts and future posts as we cover these by theme.

In a meeting held on 26th March 2026, the Regional Empowered Committee (REC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) echoed our concerns and flagged the WII EIA for it being restricted to recommending mitigation measures, rather than a comprehensive and rigorous assessment of ecological impacts of the project within the Protected Areas.

Additionally, the REC directed that the WII EIA be placed before the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) and National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) or the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) for consideration, before submission to the REC.

The REC taking notice of the WII’s failures is an important win for all of us. The SBWL and the NBWL must know that WE ARE ALL WATCHING!

Keep sharing and stay tuned for more updates.

01/04/2026

Taking flight from reality: How the Wildlife Institute of India’s (WII) Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in the proposed Railway Double-tracking through Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary (BMWLS), Mollem National Park, and Kali Tiger Reserve (KTR) misidentifies, misreports and excludes bird species and their habitats.

Critical bird habitats (for nesting, roosting, etc) were not identified in the EIA despite being a part of its objectives. Of the 125 valid species observed, 18 (14.4%) fall under Schedule I and 105 (84%) under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act. However, this legal conservation status was not reported for any of the species.

Several of the reported species don’t even exist in the study region. The Fork-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis) is an Afro-tropical species - but is mentioned six times! The Greater Flameback (Chrysocolaptes lucidus), reported thrice, is endemic to the Philippines.

The report claims that four Long-tailed Minivets (Pericrocotus ethologus) were observed - but this species has no known distribution south of Madhya Pradesh. The Indian Yellow Tit (Machlolophus aplonotus) was called Periparus ater, which refers to the Himalayan Coal Tit, not a species known from Goa. Square-tailed Bulbul (Hypsipetes ganeesa) was listed as Hypsipetes leucocephalus, the name for the Himalayan Black Bulbul. The Green Warbler (Phylloscopus nitidus) and Greenish Warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides) were both listed with high counts but referred to by the same scientific name, Phylloscopus nitidus, indicating misidentification or reporting error.

Common species such as the Malabar Barbet (Psilopogon malabaricus) and Jungle Babbler (Turdoides striata) were notably absent from the EIA and have possibly been misidentified with similar species such as the Coppersmith Barbet (Psilopogon haemacephalus) and the Yellow-billed Babbler (Turdoides affinis) respectively.

Such egregious mistakes in one of the most well documented and well studied taxa are entirely unacceptable and bring into question the integrity of the entire EIA.

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22/03/2026

A Forest Without Its Cold-Blooded Heart

The WII's EIA for the railway double-tracking records 62 herpetofaunal species (28 amphibians, 34 reptiles). However, the Western Ghats holds nearly 259 amphibian species, 200+ endemic—meaning the assessment for this railway expansion captures only a fraction of what’s at stake.

Deadly diseases like Chytridiomycosis among amphibians are acknowledged, but the EIA does not explore how railway expansion, habitat fragmentation, and associated stressors could increase disease vulnerability.

Several herpetofaunal surveys informing the railway double-tracking are restricted to July–August, overlooking the post-monsoon season completely.

Stream-dependent species like Micrixalus, remain under-documented.

Research on the King Cobras (Ophiophagus kaalinga) shows railways can alter snake movement and increase conflict. Yet, EIA relies on a few model frog genera, excluding many taxa with distinct ecologies.

Among freshwater turtles, the EIA for the railway project mentions only the Indian Black Pond Turtle (Melanochelys trijuga), listed among other reptiles, with no assessment of how this railway double-tracking could impact turtles and tortoises.

The EIA relies on model species and limited tagging methods to study amphibian movement, failing to capture the complex ecology of tropical herpetofauna.

At the same time, generic mitigation measures for the railway expansion like fencing, culverts, and underpasses are proposed without evidence of effectiveness in biodiverse tropical forests.

These vast gaps point not only to missing species, but to limitations in the assessment’s methodology itself. Restricted survey periods, reliance on a few model species, and limited tracking approaches fail to capture the complex ecology of tropical herpetofauna, leaving much of the forest’s cold-blooded life unaccounted for in decisions that could permanently alter our forests.

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01/03/2026

We are back with Scientist Shares!

Join us on 5th March (Thursday) 5:30 pm for Life between the buildings: Secret lives of owls and dragonflies in urban India.

This talk by Dr Pankaj Koparde will explore how wildlife adapts, survives, and sometimes thrives in rapidly growing Indian cities. Weaving stories of owls and dragonflies into broader narratives of urban ecology, and blending science with storytelling, this talk will shed new perspectives on how Indian cities are becoming important, unlikely arenas for biodiversity and conservation.

Join using this Google meets link: https://meet.google.com/rpp-qrgn-sjm

We will be sharing the link on our stories on the day of the talk as well.

Hope to see you there!

🦉

28/02/2026

REMEMBERING DIANA

It is with an aching heart that we share news of the passing of one of our fiercest defenders of Goa’s villages, rivers, fields, khazans, plateaus, and forests—Diana Tavares. Diana left us this morning after a prolonged battle with illness.

In every way, Diana’s heart beat for Goa’s land and her people. She was a steadfast custodian of Goa’s ecological conscience, standing unflinchingly alongside people’s struggles. She was the backbone of the Goyant Kollso Naka campaign and an important part of the historic anti-coal railway protest that drew thousands of people to Chandor. Since 2014, the Rainbow Warriors have fought tirelessly against environmentally destructive projects that displace communities and threaten indigenous knowledge and ways of life. Diana was involved in countless battles, often spending days and nights in villages, forests, courtrooms, government offices and on the streets.

Her fights ranged from issues related to the National Waterways Act, the Major Ports Authority Act, the Sagarmala Project, the Communidade Code amendment, Mopa Airport, and mega-infrastructure projects in Loliem, to the three linear projects and Mollem. She also mobilized communities and activists across Goa to oppose environmentally destructive plans at the national level. In 2023, Diana led efforts to raise awareness about the Forest Conservation Amendment Bill, mobilizing social activists, senior citizens, and children to stand against this environmentally disastrous legislation.

The people of Goa and future generations owe a lot to Diana’s life and her relentless work protecting Goa’s ecology and identity. On days when we feel exhausted and overwhelmed, we will remember Diana’s fighting spirit and her unwavering steadfastness.

THANK YOU, Diana. Rest in power.

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28/02/2026

Silent Streams: Freshwater Fish Missing from WII’s EIA for the railway double-tracking project in Mollem, Bhagwan Mahavir & Kali Tiger Reserve

The proposed railway line intersects several perennial streams, yet WII’s EIA contains no assessment of impacts on freshwater fish.

The Western Ghats are home to over 300 documented freshwater fish species, many endemic and highly sensitive to even minor habitat alterations. Construction-related debris deposition can smother spawning grounds of resident and migratory species such as stream loaches, carps, and catfish. Specialists like Bhavania australis and Balitora mysorensis, adapted to fast-flowing riffle habitats, are particularly vulnerable to changes caused by tunnel excavation and altered stream flow

The Dudhsagar River functions as a critical spawning and feeding ground for species including the Deccan Mahseer (Tor khudree) and Nash’s Barb (Osteochilichthys nashii).

Despite their ecological and conservation significance, freshwater fish - a cornerstone of aquatic biodiversity - are entirely ignored from WII’s assessment.

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14/02/2026

A Study of Wildlife, Without Most of Its Life - Insects and arachnids missing from the Wildlife Institute of India’s Environmental Impact Assessment

Insect Group

The WII EIA excludes entire arthropod groups including butterflies and moths, dragonflies and damselflies, bees, ants, wasps, and spiders.

Goa hosts 87 dragonfly species, including Idionyx gomantakensis (the Goan Shadow Dancer), a rare Western Ghats endemic first recorded from Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park.

Recent discoveries from Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary & Mollem National Park and Kali Tiger Reserve including nine wasps, two beetles, and newly identified species of a gall midge, crab, and katydid highlight how much biodiversity remains undocumented.

Removing insects from EIAs removes the foundation of ecosystems and overlooks the impacts of train noise and vibrations on insect behaviour and physiology, turning assessments into partial and misleading documents.

05/02/2026

May 2025, The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) submitted their report titled “Cumulative
Environmental Impact Assessment on Wildlife Habitat and Ecological Values Due to Proposed Doubling of Railway Track from Tinaighat to Kulem in Northern Western Ghats”. This is the second EIA submitted for the railway double-tracking project. This new EIA includes biodiversity assessments in Mollem National Park and Kali Tiger Reserve. In the coming months, we will break-down what the WII EIA reveals about each taxa (including plants, fish, birds, mammals etc).

The WII team surveyed for plants along the railway line from Kulem in Goa to Castlerock in Karnataka. This is what they found. Their own study highlights the destructive nature of the railway double-tracking project.

Artwork by: Sanjana

24/01/2026

Come let’s celebrate citizen victories in Goa this 26th January 2026. We invite all public-spirited citizens of Goa to come and celebrate the public ownership of Vainguinim Beach and ensure it remains accessible to all citizens of the state, rich or poor. Please join us at the public access point near Machado’s Cove. We invite all kinds of gatherings only to leave the beach behind as we find it. If there is any litter, we will all gladly pick it up as part of the 5–7 PM celebration.

The small and cosy Vaiguinim Beach, at Dona Paula, Goa, was the subject of attempts by the Cidade de Goa resort to have it enclosed for the exclusive use of its private guests.

The Goa Foundation .foundation fought the case of access to this public beach for several years. In 2009, the Supreme Court of India confirmed a Bombay High Court judgement directing access to be maintained to this beach for the public for all time to come. Cidade de Goa accordingly created a one metre wide access, starting with a board announcing the public pathway to the beach. A second access is through the Taj Convention Center.

The most important part of the Supreme Court judgement, however, was a declaration on the public ownership of such resources by the Supreme Court. It said “natural resources including forests, water bodies, rivers, sea shores, etc. are held by the State as a trustee on behalf of the people and especially the future generations. These constitute common properties and people are entitled to uninterrupted use thereof. The State cannot transfer public trust properties to a private party, if such a transfer interferes with the right of the public and the Court can invoke the public trust doctrine and take affirmative action for protecting the right of people to have access to light, air and water and also for protecting rivers, sea, tanks, trees, forests and associated natural eco-systems.”

Artwork by .sonar
foundation

19/11/2025

When the Amche Mollem campaign started in 2020, thousands of citizens rallied together to push back against the destructive railway double tracking project running through Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park in Goa and Kali Tiger Reserve in Karnataka.

We were met with some relief when the Supreme Court, on the recommendation of the Central Empowered Committee, cancelled the railway’s Wildlife Clearance. However, the door was left open for them to reapply for a fresh clearance with a new proposal and Environment Impact Assessment (EIA).

Now 5 years later, the Rail Vikas Nigam Limited has once again submitted their EIA, this time commissioned by the Wildlife Institute of India.The scope of work for the EIA was decided by RVNL itself, which is a blatant conflict of interest. The total amount paid by the RVNL for this study was a whopping 4.7 crores of taxpayer money! Despite this, the current EIA has several unacceptable gaps and repeats many shortcomings of the previous EIA undertaken by the Indian Institute of Science in 2017.
As citizens, it is crucial that we actively engage with this information, as this report will serve as the basis for decision-making on whether the railway double-tracking project will be implemented in the biodiverse forests of the Western Ghats.

In the coming weeks, we will guide you through each taxon in the EIA - plants, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals - highlighting both key findings and critical gaps.

Stay tuned!

02/11/2025

🚨🚨🚨The State Board of Wildlife and its important role in protecting our forests

The State Board for Wildlife is our first line of defence against any project inside a Wildlife Sanctuary, National Park, Tiger Reserve, Tiger Corridor or Eco-sensitive Zone (buffer zone around a Wildlife Sanctuary or National Park). These projects can move to the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) only after being cleared by the SBWL, making this a key point in the process for citizens to voice their concerns before a Wildlife Clearance is given.

You may recall that in 2013, the railway double tracking project was rejected by the Goa SBWL under former Chief Minister, Shri Manohar Parrikar. However, a new SBWL was constituted in 2016 and the project came up once again. By 2019, the project was cleared by both the Goa SBWL and the NBWL.

In 2022, on the recommendation of the Central Empowered Committee, the Supreme Court struck down the clearance granted to the railways by the NBWL. However, the option to submit a fresh proposal with a new Environment Impact Assessment and reapply for a Wildlife Clearance was left open. Sure enough, in August 2025, the project was placed in front of the Karnataka SBWL, and the Chief Wildlife Warden was recommended to set up a committee to do a site visit of Kali Tiger Reserve and recommend mitigation measures.

It can be expected that the project will come up at the Goa SBWL any day now. With this in mind, it is important to stay alert and keep ourselves informed about the duties of the SBWL and its members.

Goa is watching! 👁️

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