Japan agency on Shiradi ghat tunnel: Solve eco issues first

Hassan: The Japan International Co-operation Agency(JICA) reportedly wants to be satisfied that the Centre  is taking enough steps to contain the environmental damage to the Western Ghats before it releases the Rs 10,000 crore it needs for the proposed Shiradi Ghat Tunnel project that will pass through the reserve forests of Sakleshpur in Hassan.

The project involves laying a six-lane road and building a 23.5 km long tunnel-cum-bridges from Addahole to Heggade via Sakleshpur to connect Bengaluru and Mangaluru. The idea is reduce travel time between the two cities and cut down on fuel consumption.

JICA, which has already completed phase 1 of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project and has submitted its report to both the Indian government and Japanese government, is keen all measures are taken to address the environmental concerns to avoid any controversies later, according to sources.  

Environmental groups have discussed their concerns with JICA and want it to proceed with the project only after they are addressed, they add.

They have, however, not opposed the tunnel project outright and are only keen that species endemic to the Western Ghats are not affected and the fragile ecology of the region is safeguarded, say sources.