Adivasis Relieved As GO 49 Kept On Hold

Earlier in the day, Adivasi organisations had enforced a bandh across Adilabad mandal to protest GO 49 and demand its outright cancellation. The order, which designates the corridor between Tadoba Andhari and Kawal Tiger Reserves as the Komaram Bheem Conservation Reserve, had spurred fears of long term displacement and loss of livelihood for tribal communities in 339 villages.

Local Congress leaders criticised both the BRS and BJP MLAs for exploiting the issue to score political points ahead of upcoming local body elections. They urged the government to protect Adivasi rights and forest dwelling communities. Congress MLC Dande Vittal noted that the reserve proposal was drafted under the previous BRS government in 2022 and that GO 49 was only issued after pressure from the Central government.

A delegation of Congress representatives, including Khanapur MLA Vedma Bojju, MLC Dande Vittal, former MLA Atram Sakku, and Komaram Bheem Asifabad DCC president Vishwa Prasad, submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister’s adviser, Vem Narender Reddy, calling for the order’s cancellation.

Godam Ganesh, working president of Tudum Debba, thanked the state government for the temporary reprieve but insisted on a permanent solution. He urged Telangana’s BJP MPs and MLAs to press the Union forest minister for complete revocation of GO 49, noting that the Central government had originally cleared the order.

Khanapur MLA Vedma Bojju also praised Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for suspending the order, appealed for calm, and reaffirmed the Congress government’s commitment to safeguarding Adivasi rights and welfare.