Govt Takes Note Of Forest Curbs On Indiramma Houses In Kawal Tiger Reserve

ADILABAD: The state government has taken serious note of forest officials obstructing the construction of Indiramma houses in villages located within the Kawal Tiger Reserve, following complaints from elected public representatives.

Forest officials have reportedly stalled the construction of 254 Indiramma houses in the Khanapur Assembly constituency, citing issues related to the Recognition of Forest Rights (RoFR) Act and stating that the sites fall within reserve forest areas of the Kawal Tiger Reserve. Similar obstructions have been reported in parts of the Sirpur (T) Assembly constituency.

Forest officials have maintained that no construction will be permitted in eco-sensitive zones, adding that demarcation of eco-sensitive zone boundaries with Nirmal district is still pending.

In response, the state government will hold a meeting on December 23 with senior forest officials, forest minister Konda Surekha, and Adilabad in-charge minister Jupally Krishna Rao to discuss the issue and take steps to resolve it.

Earlier, forest department officials wrote to the concerned MPDOs directing them to stop construction of Indiramma houses in villages falling under the Kawal Tiger Reserve and Birsaipet Range, stating that the works violate provisions of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and the Telangana Forest Act, 1967.

In a letter dated October 22, 2025, the forest department asked MPDOs to halt construction of 41 Indiramma houses in various villages of the Birsaipet Range until requisite permissions were obtained.

Khanapur MLA Vedma Bojju met Principal Chief Conservator of Forests C. Suvarna and minister Jupally Krishna Rao on Friday and submitted a memorandum seeking permission to resume construction of Indiramma houses.

Of the affected houses, 187 are meant for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) and 65 for non-PVTGs. Construction has been impacted in Kadam, Khanapur, Pembi and Dasturabad mandals of Nirmal district due to RoFR-related issues.

The MLA said forest officials should not have allowed construction in the initial stages, noting that several houses had reached slab, basement, wall or earthwork levels before work was halted. He added that many beneficiaries had demolished their existing houses to build new ones and are now forced to live in temporary huts amid cold weather, effectively rendering them homeless.