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PLATINUM The Journal of Threatened Taxa (JoTT) is dedicated to building evidence for conservaton globally by publishing peer-reviewed artcles OPEN ACCESS online every month at a reasonably rapid rate at www.threatenedtaxa.org. All artcles published in JoTT are registered under Creatve Commons Atributon 4.0 Internatonal License unless otherwise mentoned. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproducton, and distributon of artcles in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publicaton. Journal of Threatened Taxa Building evidence for conservaton globally www.threatenedtaxa.org ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) Monograph On the inadequacy of environment impact assessments for projects in Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park of Goa, India: a peer review – Girish Punjabi, Anisha Jayadevan, Abhishek Jamalabad, Nandini Velho, Madhura Niphadkar-Bandekar, Pronoy Baidya, Ravi Jambhekar, Parag Rangnekar, Omkar SPECIAL ISSUE Dharwadkar, Rhea Lopez, Marishia Rodrigues, Farai Divan Patel, H.S. Sathya Chan- dra Sagar, Sayan Banerjee, Manish Chandi, Nandini Mehrotra, Shashank Srinivasan, Sneha Shahi, Vidyadhar Atkore, Nirmal Kulkarni, Gowri Mallapur, Hanuman Gawas, Atul Borker, Rahul Prabhukhanolkar, Harshada S. Gauns, Dheeraj Halali, Vighnesh D. Shinde, Katrina Fernandez, Esme Purdie & Manoj R. Borkar 31 December 2020 | Vol. 12 | No. 18 | Pages: 17387–17454 DOI: 10.11609/jot.6650.12.18.17387-17454 For Focus, Scope, Aims, Policies, and Guidelines visit htps://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/about/editorialPolicies#custom-0 For Artcle Submission Guidelines, visit htps://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/about/submissions#onlineSubmissions For Policies against Scientfc Misconduct, visit htps://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/about/editorialPolicies#custom-2 For reprints, contact <[email protected]> The opinions expressed by the authors do not refect the views of the Journal of Threatened Taxa, Wildlife Informaton Liaison Development Society, Zoo Outreach Organizaton, or any of the partners. The journal, the publisher, the host, and the part- Publisher & Host ners are not responsible for the accuracy of the politcal boundaries shown in the maps by the authors. Member Threatened Taxa Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 31 December 2020 | 12(18): 17387–17454 ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) PLATINUM OPEN ACCESS DOI: htps://doi.org/10.11609/jot.6650.12.18.17387-17454 #6650 | Received 02 November 2020 | Final received 17 December 2020| Finally accepted 28 December 2020 M o n On the inadequacy of environment impact assessments for projects in o g r Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and Natonal Park a p of Goa, India: a peer review h Girish Punjabi 1 , Anisha Jayadevan 2 , Abhishek Jamalabad 3 , Nandini Velho 4 , Madhura Niphadkar-Bandekar 5 , Pronoy Baidya 6 , Ravi Jambhekar 7 , Parag Rangnekar 8 , Omkar Dharwadkar 9 , Rhea Lopez 10 , Marishia Rodrigues 11 , Farai Divan Patel 12 , H.S. Sathya Chandra Sagar 13 , Sayan Banerjee 14 , Manish Chandi 15 , Nandini Mehrotra 16 , Shashank Srinivasan 17 , Sneha Shahi 18 , Vidyadhar Atkore 19 , Nirmal Kulkarni 20 , Gowri Mallapur 21 , Hanuman Gawas 22 , Atul Borker 23 , Rahul Prabhukhanolkar 24 , Harshada S. Gauns 25 , Dheeraj Halali 26 , Vighnesh D. Shinde 27 , Katrina Fernandez 28 , Esme Purdie 29 & Manoj R. Borkar 30 1 Wildlife Conservaton Trust, 11th Floor, Mafatlal Centre, Nariman Point, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400021, India. 2 Foundaton for Ecological Research Advocacy and Learning, 170/3, Moratandi, Tamil Nadu 605101, India. 3 H.no. 44, Kanara House, Mogul Lane, Mahim, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400016, India. 4 Srisht Manipal Insttute of Art, Design and Technology, N5 Campus, CA Site No.21, 5th Phase, KHB Colony, Yelahanka New Town, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560064, India. 5, 8, 9 Foundaton for Environment Research and Conservaton, Vasco, Goa 403802, India. 5,7 Azim Premji University, PES Campus, Pixel Park, B Block, Electronics City, Hosur Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560100, India. 6, 13 Centre for Ecological Sciences, 3rd foor, Biological Sciences building, Indian Insttute of Science, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560012, India. 10, 11, 12 MSc Programme in Wildlife Biology & Conservaton, Centre for Widlife Studies, Tata Insttute of Fundamental Research, Natonal Centre for Biological Sciences, GKVK, Bellary Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560065, India. 14 Natonal Insttute of Advanced Studies, Indian Insttute of Science Campus, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560012, India. 15 Living Heritage Foundaton, Goa & Andaman Nicobar Environment Team, North Wandoor, South Andaman, Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands 744103, India. 16, 17 Technology for Wildlife, C13, La Campala Colony, Miramar, Panjim 403001, Goa, India. 18 The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Pratapgunj, Vadodara, Gujarat 390002, India. 19 Forestry Scholars Society, Near Hanuman temple, Ravi Nagar, Amravat 444607, Maharashtra, India. 20, 22 Mhadei Research Centre, 6, Hiru Naik Building, Dhuler, Mapusa, Goa 403507, India. 21 GaiaMitra Collectve Foundaton, Aanaa Villa, Lane No 7, PDA Colony, Alto Porvorim, Bardez, Goa 403521, India. 23 Luta Innovaton, 887/13, Kamat Nagar, Porvorim-Socorro, Goa 403501, India. 24 Mhadei Research Centre & Indian Bat Conservaton Research Unit, Mahalaxmi Plaza, 1st Floor, RPD cross, Tilakwadi, Belgaum, Karnataka 590006, India. 25 Arannya Environment Research Organisaton, H. Number 7, Near Gram Panchayat, Morlem, Goa 403505, India. 26 Parvatbai Chowgule College of Arts & Science, Gogol, Margao, Goa 403602, India. 26, 27 Abasaheb Garware College, Karve Road, Erandwane, Pune, Maharashtra 411004, India. 28, 29 Wild Oters Research Pvt Ltd., No. 663/1, Gavona, Tiswadi, Chorao, Goa 403102, India. 30 Biodiversity Research Cell, Department of Zoology, Carmel College of Arts, Science & Commerce for Women, Nuvem, Goa 403713, India. 1 [email protected] (corresponding author), 2 [email protected], 3 [email protected], 4 [email protected], 5 [email protected], 6 [email protected], 7 [email protected], 8 [email protected], 9 [email protected], 10 [email protected], 11 [email protected], 12 [email protected], 13 [email protected], 14 [email protected], 15 [email protected], 16 [email protected], 17 [email protected], 18 [email protected], 19 [email protected], 20 [email protected], 21 [email protected], 22 [email protected], 23 [email protected], 24 [email protected], 25 [email protected], 26 [email protected], 27 [email protected], 28 [email protected], 29 [email protected], 30 [email protected] 17387 J TT Environment impact assessments for projects in Bhagwan Mahavir WS & NP Punjabi et al. Abstract: The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) is a regulatory framework adopted since 1994 in India to evaluate the impact and mitgaton measures of projects, however, even afer 25 years of adopton, EIAs contnue to be of inferior quality with respect to biodiversity documentaton and assessment of impacts and their mitgaton measures. This questons the credibility of the exercise, as defcient EIAs are habitually used as a basis for project clearances in ecologically sensitve and irreplaceable regions. The authors reiterate this point by analysing impact assessment documents for three projects: the doubling of the Natonal Highway-4A, doubling of the railway- line from Castlerock to Kulem, and laying of a 400-kV transmission line through the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and Natonal Park in the state of Goa. Two of these projects were recently granted ‘Wildlife Clearance’ during a virtual meetng of the Standing Commitee of the Natonal Board of Wildlife (NBWL) without a thorough assessment of the project impacts. Assessment reports for the road and railway expansion were found to be defcient on multple fronts regarding biodiversity assessment and projected impacts, whereas no impact assessment report was available in the public domain for the 400-kV transmission line project. This paper highlights the biodiversity signifcance of this protected area complex in the Western Ghats, and highlights the lacunae in biodiversity documentaton and inadequacy of mitgaton measures in assessment documents for all three diversion projects. The EIA process needs to improve substantally if India is to protect its natural resources and adhere to environmental protecton policies and regulatons natonally and globally. Keywords: Biodiversity, development, highway, Natonal Board for Wildlife, protected area, railway, transmission line, Western Ghats. Abbreviatons: Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and Natonal Park—BMWS & NP | EC—Environmental Clearance | EIA—Environment Impact Assessment | FC—Forest Clearance | IUCN—Internatonal Union for Conservaton of Nature and Natural Resources | NP—Natonal Park | PAs—Protected Areas | WC—Wildlife Clearance | WPA—Wildlife (Protecton) Act | WS—Wildlife Sanctuary | MoEFCC—Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India | UNESCO—United Natons Educatonal, Scientfc & Cultural Organizaton. Editor: Anonymity requested. Date of publicaton: 31 December 2020 (online & print) Citaton: Punjabi, G., A. Jayadevan, A. Jamalabad, N. Velho, M. Niphadkar-Bandekar, P. Baidya, R. Jambhekar, P. Rangnekar, O. Dharwakar, R. Lopez, M. Rodrigues, F.D. Patel, H.S.S.C. Sagar, S. Banerjee, M. Chandi, N. Mehrotra, S. Srinivasan, S. Shahi, V. Atkore, N.