Tribal outcry forces govt to put tiger corridor GO on hold
The order, issued on May 30, notified 1,492.88 sq km across Asifabad and Kagaznagar forest divisions as the Kumuram Bheem Conservation Reserve, intended to formalize a crucial tiger corridor linking Kawal Tiger Reserve in Telangana and Tadoba Andhari reserve in Maharashtra.
Amid growing fears of displacement in nearly 339 tribal villages and a complete bandh in the erstwhile Adilabad district on Monday, the state govt was compelled to retract.
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The decision was made after a delegation led by panchayat raj minister D Anasuya (Seethakka), Adilabad in charge minister Jupally Krishna Rao, forest minister Konda Surekha, and local MLA Vedma Bhojju met chief minister A Revanth Reddy.
"The Congress-led people's govt will always stand by the children of the forest.
Adivasis and tribals should not have any concerns over GO 49," Konda Surekha told the media in Warangal.
Widespread Resistance and Fear of Eviction
The GO sparked backlash from tribal rights groups, including Tudum Debba, whose leader, Godam Ganesh, said the corridor will adversely impact tribal livelihoods and lead to mass displacements. "We fear it will affect 339 tribal villages across Asifabad and Kagaznagar," he said.
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A bandh called by Tudum Debba on Monday, shut down businesses, schools, and public transport across four districts. CPI and CPM functionaries also extended support to the agitation, accusing the govt of attempting to alienate tribal land.
The protests were further fuelled by a letter — allegedly from CPI (Maoist) — which called on Seethakka to ensure protection for tribals in the affected areas. Seethakka, who has tribal roots and is an ex-Maoist herself, questioned the letter's authenticity, but said she would not allow any decision that harmed forest-dwelling communities.
"The moment concerns were raised about GO 49, I spoke directly with relevant officials. I will never allow any policy to harm tribal livelihoods in the name of forest or wildlife conservation," she said.
Ecological Significance of the Corridor
The now-suspended Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve was conceived as a vital ecological link for tiger movement and genetic exchange between major reserves. The area connects Kawal with Tadoba, Tipeshwar, Kanhargaon, Chaprala in Maharashtra, and Indravati in Chhattisgarh.
Apart from tigers, it supports leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears, wolves, hyenas, and over 240 bird species, including the endangered Malabar pied hornbill and long-billed vulture.
According to the GO, the presence of breeding tigers and consistent inter-state dispersal events over the last decade underscore the importance of the region for long-term conservation. The proposed area includes 78 reserved forest blocks across 10 mandals.
Conservationists Disappointed at Policy Reversal
While tribal communities welcomed the decision, wildlife experts expressed concern over the govt's handling of the matter.
"The decision to keep Kumuram Bheem Conservation Reserve in abeyance following tribal protests is unfortunate — not because the concerns of local communities are invalid, but because it reflects a failure of dialogue," Imran Siddiqui, senior field conservationist at the Centre for Wildlife Studies and co-founder of HYTICOS, said.
"Conservation should never be imposed, but co-created with the people who have lived in and protected these forests for generations. Rather than abandon protection, we must work harder to build trust and ensure that conservation uplifts both nature and indigenous livelihoods," he said.
Efforts by forest officers to allay fears and communicate that no immediate evictions are planned failed to gain traction. The forest department has now been asked to submit a fresh report, and the CM's office has indicated the policy may be revisited after further consultations.
A senior forest officer told TOI: "We are hoping the GO will be revived later. We will continue to crack down on encroachments on forest land."
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