<p>The union environment ministry has given final clearance for diverting 54 acres of forest for the work on widening the Sirsi-Kumta highway, notwithstanding the opposition from activists.</p>.<p>Activists had opposed the plan to widen the road by citing the landslides in the Western Ghats over the last three years.</p>.<p>The National Highways Authority of India (NHA) had originally sought 98.46 acres of forest land, stating that the project was taken up under Bharathmala Pariyojana phase 1 to improve connectivity to ports. The forest land requirement was reduced to 53.77 acres later.</p>.<p>Following clearances from the expert committee, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) laid down conditions for the stage two approval.</p>.<p>In a latter dated March 16, the ministry has said agreed for diversion on condition that compensatory afforestation is taken up on 107.55 acre of land at Sampakanad village in Sirsi taluk.</p>.<p>The letter also bars NHAI from establishing a labour camp on forest land and cautions against damaging the flora and fauna.</p>
<p>The union environment ministry has given final clearance for diverting 54 acres of forest for the work on widening the Sirsi-Kumta highway, notwithstanding the opposition from activists.</p>.<p>Activists had opposed the plan to widen the road by citing the landslides in the Western Ghats over the last three years.</p>.<p>The National Highways Authority of India (NHA) had originally sought 98.46 acres of forest land, stating that the project was taken up under Bharathmala Pariyojana phase 1 to improve connectivity to ports. The forest land requirement was reduced to 53.77 acres later.</p>.<p>Following clearances from the expert committee, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) laid down conditions for the stage two approval.</p>.<p>In a latter dated March 16, the ministry has said agreed for diversion on condition that compensatory afforestation is taken up on 107.55 acre of land at Sampakanad village in Sirsi taluk.</p>.<p>The letter also bars NHAI from establishing a labour camp on forest land and cautions against damaging the flora and fauna.</p>