Telangana: Eturnagaram afforestation drive to restore green cover and boost wildlife
The Telangana Forest Department is launching an afforestation drive in Eturnagaram to recover from the 2024 storm damage that uprooted 70,000 trees. Plans include grasslands, bamboo plantations and release of herbivores to restore wildlife and green cover.
Hyderabad: In the aftermath of the September 2024 devastation that uprooted nearly 70,000 trees in the Eturnagaram forests, the State Forest Department has drawn up a comprehensive afforestation plan to restore the green cover and bolster wildlife numbers.
To begin with, the department plans to develop grasslands over vast stretches, followed by bamboo plantations along key roads under this year’s Vanamahotsavam programme.
About 330 hectares of green cover was lost due to a massive gale and a sudden cloudburst in the forest stretch between Tadvai and Mulugu. Over 70,000 trees were uprooted, and the grasslands were extensively damaged.
To compensate for the loss, the department is initially developing grasslands covering 50 to 60 acres in Phase I. “These grasslands will be fully developed by the next monsoon,” a senior official from the department said.
In addition, extensive bamboo plantations are planned on either side of the Tadvai–Medaram road, covering around 8 km. Bamboo was chosen due to its fast growth and its potential to generate revenue for the department upon maturity.
The development of grasslands and bamboo plantations plays a vital role in increasing the population of wild cats. Though the region currently has a limited number of tigers and leopards, the initiative is expected to help improve their population, the official added.
Under Phase II, the department also plans to release spotted deer, blackbucks and other herbivores to strengthen the prey base. Once the grasslands mature to a suitable extent, spotted deer from various deer parks will be introduced into the forests.
Further, farmers in Makthal and Krishna mandals of Narayanpet district, as well as from parts of Nizamabad and Nirmal districts, have been reporting issues due to blackbuck presence. These blackbucks, once relocated, will also be released in the Eturnagaram forests after grassland development.
Following the devastation, 10 teams from the Meteorological Department and the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) had conducted a detailed study. Their report, submitted to the government, primarily attributed the damage to the shallow root systems of many trees. Additionally, two cyclonic formations had led to heavy rains and strong gales, causing extensive damage.
