GO 49 triggers bandh across erstwhile Adilabad, tribal groups demand rollback

Commercial activity came to a standstill in Adilabad, Nirmal, Asifabad and Mancherial on Monday as Tudum Debba led a bandh opposing GO 49, which notifies the Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve. Left parties also extended support, alleging tribal displacement

Adilabad: A dawn-to-dusk bandh was observed across the erstwhile Adilabad district on Monday in protest against Government Order (GO) 49, which notified the creation of the Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve. Commercial establishments, schools, cinema theatres and fuel stations remained shut in response to the call given by Tudum Debba, a tribal rights organisation.

TSRTC buses remained confined to depots in Adilabad, Nirmal, Kumram Bheem Asifabad and Mancherial districts. Activists of Tudum Debba staged sit-ins in front of the depots, preventing the buses from operating. Drivers and conductors remained at the depots under police protection. All major commercial hubs across the four districts wore a deserted look.

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The CPI and CPM extended support to the bandh and condemned the State government for issuing the order. Party leaders demanded its withdrawal, alleging that tribals from 339 villages in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district would be displaced as a result of the reserve. They accused the government of conspiring to alienate tribal lands.

GO 49, issued on May 30, notified the corridor of Kawal Tiger Reserve as the Kumram Bheem Tiger Conservation Reserve, covering 1,492 square kilometres (1,49,288 hectares) of forest. The reserve spans 78 forest blocks, mainly in Kadamba, Bejjur and Garlapet mandals, which have reported frequent tiger sightings in recent years.

Tudum Debba and several other tribal rights organisations have opposed the order from the outset. The outfit launched an agitation on July 5, organising several programmes to mobilise public opinion. It also announced that copies of resolutions against the conservation reserve would be submitted to local forest range officers and mandal revenue officers on July 14.