Sabari rail project

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Amidst ongoing uncertainties surrounding the long-standing Angamaly-Erumeli Sabari Railway project, the Kerala government has formally urged the Union Ministry of Railways to prioritize it as a crucial connectivity route to the popular Sabarimala hill shrine, instead of the newly proposed Chengannur-Pampa corridor.

V. Abdurahiman, the State's Railways Minister, emphasized that the approval of the new line should not come at the expense of the Angamaly-Erumeli Sabari project, which has already incurred expenditures totaling ₹250 crore. The state has already earmarked lands for acquisition along its alignment and allocated ₹100 crore in the current year’s budget for its advancement.

 Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Kerala highlighted several advantages of the Angamaly-Erumeli Sabari line over the Chengannur-Pamba route. Notably, the former offers a more direct route for pilgrims traveling from northern Kerala and neighboring states, who constitute over 80% of Sabarimala visitors arriving by train.

Moreover, Kerala argued that unlike the seasonal nature of pilgrimages to Sabarimala (lasting 114 days annually), the Chengannur-Pampa line serves primarily as a feeder route with limited connectivity to major towns. In contrast, the Angamaly-Erumeli Sabari line is poised to become central Kerala's third railway corridor, connecting strategically with planned railway projects from Erumeli to Punalur and Punalur to Thiruvananthapuram.

Furthermore, Kerala highlighted the potential connectivity benefits to the upcoming Vizhinjam International Seaport, facilitating international freight movement.

Tamil Nadu has decided to permit controlled culling of wild boars in agricultural fields near forested areas.

The Tamil Nadu government has opted to permit the controlled reduction of wild boar populations that pose a threat to farmers in agricultural lands near forested areas.

According to Forest Minister M. Mathiventhan, this decision follows recommendations from the Farmers’ Conflict Resolution Committee. The committee, comprising officials from Forest, Revenue, Agriculture, and Horticulture departments, alongside scientific experts and wildlife advocates, was formed to assess the impact of elephant and wild boar raids on crops.

During discussions on his department’s budgetary demands, Minister Mathiventhan outlined the zoning of areas adjacent to reserve forests into three categories: Zone A (within one kilometer of forest borders), Zone B (one to five kilometers), and Zone C (beyond five kilometers). He emphasized that culling of wild boars would not be permitted within five kilometers of the reserve forest.

While farmers have long sought government approval for wild boar culling, concerns have been raised by experts regarding the potential for indiscriminate killing.

Mr. Mathiventhan stressed that any culling activities must adhere strictly to scientific principles, taking into consideration the severity and frequency of conflicts on farmlands situated beyond Zone C.

Water stress can hurt credit profile

India’s sovereign credit strength could face negative repercussions due to the country’s escalating water scarcity and the increasing frequency of natural disasters driven by climate change. These challenges come amidst heightened consumption and rapid economic expansion.

India remains vulnerable to mounting water stress. The nation heavily relies on monsoon rains for its water supply, and any shortfall could disrupt operations in factories and agriculture. Moody’s highlighted that such disruptions could elevate food prices, reduce income for affected businesses and communities, and potentially lead to social unrest.

India's environmental risks that these factors could heighten volatility in the country’s economic growth and diminish its resilience against shocks, particularly given that over 40% of India's workforce is engaged in agriculture. The rating agency specifically identified coal-fired power generation and steel production as industrial sectors most susceptible to water stress.

India faces significant vulnerabilities in water management compared to other G-20 economies and has the poorest access to essential services such as water. The rapid pace of economic growth, industrialization, and urbanization in India is further exacerbating water scarcity in the world's most populous nation.

According to Moody’s, average annual water availability per capita is projected to decline from 1,486 cubic meters in 2021 to 1,367 cubic meters by 2031. This reduction places India under severe water stress, as defined by the Water Resources Ministry, with the threshold for water scarcity set at 1,000 cubic meters per capita.