Hundreds of sand-laden lorries passing through Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary round the clock are disturbing wildlife habitats. Animals crossing roads are even being reportedly run over.

Area residents say the movement of heavy vehicles, accompanied by engine noise and frequent honking, is forcing animals to move to other areas. They have raised concerns why sand transportation through the sanctuary is not being regulated.

Mulugu district forest officer Meena Vikas Raj said the Centre had issued only a draft notification proposing an eco-sensitive zone around the sanctuary. The final notification is awaited. She said provisions could be implemented only after the final notification is issued. Until then, the department faces limitations in regulating the movement of sand-carrying trucks.

One of the oldest wildlife sanctuaries in the country, Eturnagaram is located in the Godavari River basin. It is close to forest areas in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. On July 27, 2017, the Union government issued a draft notification S.O. No. 2046(E), proposing to include 1,281.7 square kilometres in the erstwhile Warangal and Karimnagar districts in the eco-sensitive zone.

The sanctuary is home to tigers, leopards, bears, hyenas, wild buffaloes, wild dogs, foxes, deer, nilgai, crocodiles, pythons, giant squirrels and flying squirrels. In addition, it supports hundreds of plant species and is the habitat for several rare birds.

Sand lorries from Manuguru and Cherla continue to pass through the sanctuary despite the availability of alternative routes from Wazeedu and Venkatapuram towards Bhadrachalam, and from Eturnagaram and Mangapet towards Palvancha via Manuguru.

Traffic between Hyderabad and Chhattisgarh has also increased after the Vasan Road has been declared National Highway 163. This has turned the once forest road into a regular transport corridor. Area residents say due to the increased traffic, several animals and people have died in accidents along the route.

The eco-sensitive zone framework proposed by the centre envisages restrictions on activities that could harm the environment and preparation of a zonal master plan. It provides for a monitoring committee headed by the district collector, with representatives from the forest, mining, pollution control and transport departments.

The forest department has reportedly raised objections to sand mining within the proposed eco-sensitive zone, even as permits have been granted for certain sand reaches. Forest officials recently stopped operations at some unauthorised quarries.

There are allegations that environmental clearances for certain sand reaches have been obtained without properly disclosing their proximity to forest areas and reserve forest boundaries.

The delay in issuing the final notification and lack of coordination between the Forest and Mining departments have raised concerns over the regulation of sand transportation and mining in one of the oldest sanctuaries in India.

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Infographics

- Forest department says action under the proposed eco-sensitive zone provisions can be taken only after the final notification.

- Zonal master plan and inter-departmental monitoring mechanisms are yet to be put in place.

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