Tribals led by Tudum Dedba protest against GO 49 over new tiger corridor in Asifabad

Godam Ganesh, a leader of Tudum Debba, said they had chalked out an action plan to oppose the order, which they fear will affect 339 tribal villages across the Asifabad and Kagaznagar divisions. The organisation has initiated awareness meetings in villages, which will continue till July 13

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: Tudum Debba, a tribal rights organisation, has launched a protest movement against Government Order (GO) 49, which declares the creation of a tiger corridor—designated the Kumram Bheem Tiger Conservation Reserve—linking Maharashtra’s Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve with Telangana’s Kawal Tiger Reserve.

Beginning Sunday, the organisation has initiated awareness meetings in villages, which will continue till July 13.

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Godam Ganesh, a leader of Tudum Debba, said they had chalked out an action plan to oppose the order, which they fear will affect 339 tribal villages across the Asifabad and Kagaznagar divisions. He expressed concern that the establishment of the reserve would lead to the displacement of tribals residing in these areas and urged the State government to withdraw the decision.

As per the action plan, copies of resolutions opposing the reserve will be submitted to the local forest range and mandal revenue offices on July 14. A bandh will be observed on July 21, during which commercial establishments and educational institutions will be closed. The organisation said the future course of action will be decided based on the outcomes of these programmes.

The State government had recently issued GO 49, notifying the Kumram Bheem (KB) Tiger Conservation Reserve, encompassing 1,492 sq km (1,49,288 hectares) of forest cover. The reserve spreads across 78 forest blocks, primarily in Kadamba, Bejjur and Garlapet ranges, which have reported increased tiger movement in recent years.

Officials stated that the landscape is ecologically significant as it connects Kawal with not only Tadoba, but also Tippeswar and Kanhargaon sanctuaries, Chaprala Wildlife Sanctuary in Maharashtra, and the Indravati Wildlife Sanctuary in Chhattisgarh.