Kawal Reserve Seeks Cut In Eco Sensitive Zone
Proposals had been submitted to the state government to reduce the eco sensitive zone: Reports
ADILABAD: In an unexpected move, Kawal tiger reserve officials have submitted a proposal to the state government to reduce the eco‑sensitive zone to one km from the boundary of the core area, down from the existing 10 km, to address problems faced by local people.
Forest officials have been imposing restrictions on sand mining from streams and rivulets in the core area, which fall within the eco‑sensitive zone. The Godavari River also comes under the zone as per a Supreme Court judgment of 2006. At the same time, the judgment provides for relaxation in the extent of the zone to meet local requirements.
Residents said restrictions were affecting development works, including roads and construction of Indiramma houses, due to difficulty in obtaining sand. The reserve, spread across Adilabad, Nirmal, Komaram Bheem Asifabad and Mancherial districts, has seen protests, with some locals launching a relay hunger strike in Jannaram and even demanding cancellation of the reserve, citing that the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has declared no resident tiger has been sighted since its creation in 2012.
Divisional forest officer Jannaram M. Rammohan said proposals had been submitted to the state government to reduce the eco‑sensitive zone from 10 km to one km to resolve local issues. He said the state government must clear the proposals and forward them to the Ministry of Environment and Forest for approval. Until then, the existing 10 km restriction from the boundary of the core area will remain in force