The forest department recently released black bucks into the reserve forest
Vikarabad Forest. (Photo: PTI/File)
Hyderabad: The Vikarabad forest adjoining Anantagiri hills, about 70 km from here, is all set to be declared as a conservation reserve. The area is spread over a few hundred acres adjoining the 1,500-hectare Anantagiri reserve forest.
Hyderabad range chief conservator of forests, Ramana Reddy, has presented a detailed report on the proposal to the Government. The area houses leopards, neelgai, spotted deer, sambar, wild boar and peafowl. The forest department recently released black bucks into the reserve forest.
“The area that is contiguous with the Anantagiri forest has good biodiversity. There is abundant tree growth. If it is declared as a conservation reserve, it will get protected area status,” said Mr Reddy.
Under Section 36 A of the Wildlife Protection Act, the Government after consulting with the local communities may declare any area owned by the Government, the areas adjacent to national parks and sanctuaries and those areas which link one protected area with another, as a conservation reserve. A committee will be formed to advise the chief wildlife warden on its maintenance.
The committee will have a representative of the forest or wildlife department as member secretary. A representative of each village panchayat and three representatives of NGOs working for wildlife conservation and one from the departments of agriculture and animal husbandry will be picked for the committee.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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