Over 190 Acres of Forest Land Illegally Cleared in Telangana’s Vikarabad, Eight Recovered

Officials in Telangana's Vikarabad district have documented the clearing of nearly 200 acres of forest land, primarily in Pargi mandal, following years of satellite alerts that were ignored. The encroachments occurred on lands adjacent to those granted under the Recognition of Forest Rights (FRA) Act, 2006. So far, eight acres have been recovered and one encroacher arrested, while 20 cases have been registered out of 80 identified instances.

Vikarabad, a biodiversity hotspot within 100 km of Hyderabad and the birthplace of the Musi river, has seen significant tree cover loss. The recent action came after a news report highlighted encroachments in the Damagundam reserve forest, which had earlier been the site of protests against a Very Low Frequency (VLF) station proposed by the Eastern Naval Command. The scale of tree removal for the VLF station, however, is far smaller than the encroachments now uncovered.

According to forest department sources, satellite alerts on tree cover changes had been overlooked for years. Only after the transfer of the district forest officer and the appointment of the Ranga Reddy district forest officer as additional charge did officials take the alerts seriously. Field staff then identified 80 encroachments, and legal proceedings have begun.

The eight acres recovered were part of a 361-acre block designated for fencing as a condition for Stage-II forest clearance for the VLF station. The Navy was responsible for fencing but faced objections from encroachers. With the removal of hurdles, officials plan to review and commence fencing work soon. The encroacher involved in the eight-acre case has been remanded.

This incident underscores challenges in balancing development, forest conservation, and tribal rights under the FRA. The forest department is now engaged in damage control, but the loss of nearly 200 acres of dense forest represents a significant environmental setback.