7 days ago
SBWL clears proposal for a Tiger cell at Aranya Bhavan
The Telangana State Board for Wildlife during its meeting on Monday approved a proposal to establish a 'Tiger Cell' at Aranya Bhavan — the Forest department's headquarters — in order to closely monitor tiger and leopard activity outside the designated reserves.
The unit will track tiger movements and and also record the instance of human-wildlife conflicts in areas such as Kamareddy, Nirmal and Jagtial, besides Eturunagaram and Kinnerasani sanctuaries.
The meeting gave its nod to the formation of quick response teams under the Forest department to handle human-wildlife conflict situations in view of increasing instances of livestock depredation, and mortality of tigers and other wild animals. The proposal is to set up four QRTs in the state, respectively at Nehru Zoological Park, Hyderabad, Amrabad Tiger Reserve, Mannanur, Kakatiya Zoological Park, Hanumakonda, and Kawal Tiger Reserve, Mancherial. Four cycles of training for selected staff have been completed, a note informed.
Minister for Forests & Environment Konda Surekha, who chaired the meeting, advised training and incorporating Adivasi youth into the QRTs at the village level.
The Board has resolved to conduct a comprehensive study to address growing concerns about heavy traffic passing through the Kawal Tiger Reserve. The study will focus on vehicle classification by axle and weight, compatibility of road width and strength to support heavy transport, toll gate locations and fee structures, number of wildlife deaths due to road accidents, and the effects of noise, dust and air pollution on flora and fauna.
The Board cleared seven proposals for diversion of forest land with a cumulative extent of over 8.7 hectares, of which over six hectares are in favour of the Roads & Buildings department, for strengthening and improvement of the existing cart track to BT standard between Musmi and Botilingala in Mahabubabad district.
A proposal for setting up private grain-based Ethanol plant on non-forest land at Kumram Bheem Asifabad district stood rejected by the Board. The standing committee of the Board constituted in March 13 has been empowered at the meeting in carrying out its mandate.
The meeting resolved to use the revenue collected at forest and tiger reserve check posts for forestry activities such as anti-poaching operations, enforcement of plastic free zones, fire protection and emergency response. The charges collected are to be deposited in Tiger Conservation Foundation account in the two tiger reserves.
The meeting also ratified proposals for relocation of five villages from core area of Amrabad Tiger Reserve and one village from core area of Kawal Tiger Reserve, and reviewed the previous proposals which were sent to the National Board of Wildlife for approval.
Minister Konda Surekha said the sentiments of the tribal communities would not be hurt and violation of forest laws would not be tolerated. The meeting was co-chaired by Minister for Panchayat Raj Danasari Anasuya alias Seethakka, with attendance from MLAs Payam Venkateswarlu, Koram Kanakaiah, Murali Naik, Ram Das Nayak and Vedma Bojju, and senior officials, including Principal Secretary Ahmed Nadeem, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force C. Suvarna and Chief Wildlife Warden Elusing Meru.
