Over one lakh trees to be axed to relocate four villages from Amrabad Tiger Reserve

Around 1,253 families to be shifted from Amrabad Tiger Reserve core area to Bacharam reserve forest in Nagarkurnool district

HYDERABAD: The relocation of four villages from Amrabad Tiger Reserve (ATR) core area to the Bacharam reserve forest lands is now posing an environmental challenge for forest officials as over one lakh trees are likely to be felled as part of the exercise.

The Forest Department has made all arrangements for relocation of 1,253 families from the ATR core area in two phases. In the first phase, 417 families are to be relocated from Sarlapally, Kudichintalabailu, Kollampeta and Tatigindala villages to Bacharam reserve forest in Nagarkurnool district. The remaining 836 families are to be relocated from Vatvarpally and others in the second phase. For first phase relocation, Rs 55 crore has been approved and for second phase, it is estimated that an additional Rs.100 crore would be required.

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Since availability of revenue land for relocation of these villages was a challenge, the department had identified 1,500 hectares under the Bacharam reserve forest limits for rehabilitation. However, the exercise is now posing a new challenge for the officials. The department needs the Centre’s approval for denotifying the Bacharam reserve forest lands. Once the denotification is approved, over one lakh trees have to be felled for establishing the required infrastructure under the rehabilitation exercise. A formal appeal was being made to the Centre to this effect.

Forest officials were confident that the Centre would accord approvals. They were also claiming that an afforestation exercise would be taken up extensively as compensation for utilising 1,500 hectares of Bacharam reserve forest lands. Already, forest officials have conducted District Level Committee meetings over relocation and rehabilitation of villages headed by the District Collector. The same was also approved by the State Committee as well.

With the tiger population steadily increasing in the ATR, relocation of the villages from the core areas is inevitable. The relocation is to ensure that there is no human-wildlife conflict and to ensure development of biodiversity and welfare of local residents, especially the Chenchu tribals.