Warangal losing its green cover

Forests have been the first casualty of development. Tribal peopla out of innocence clear forests for farming needs and cut trees for firewood, while trees are also being increasingly felled for real estate.

As against the required 33 per cent of forest, Warangal district, which once boasted of rich virgin forest, presently has only 26 per cent. The district has teak forests, mixed forests and tropical dry deciduous forests.

Speaking to

The Hindu , chief conservator P. V. Raja Rao says it is high time we all act to save forests. “The Forest Department alone could do little. We want people to know the importance of biodiversity and come forward supplementing our efforts,” he said.

Warangal district has 12,845 sq km while the forest accounts for 3,397.28 sq. km.

Major threat

Major threat came from the settlers. Large number of people used to migrate from other parts of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh who preferred to settle all along the river Godavari in Eturunagaram, Mangapet and other fertile areas.

They used to engage the innocent tribal people in felling the forest, which later they claimed for farming.

In the recent past, scores of Gotti Koya tribes migrated from neighbouring Chhattisgarh State as they were caught between the naxalites and police there.

Looking for safe haven, they entered Khammam and Warangal districts.

According to forest records, there are over 100 families settled in deep forest tracts.

The local settlers also engaged them to cut the forest for podu first and later the settlers convinced them to leave it and look for another patch. “In Mulug we are fighting to reclaim nearly 30 acres of forest land and near Ramappa temple, we are trying to reclaim over 50 acres of forest land encroached by local people,” said Mr. Raja Rao.

The biennial Medaram Jatara held in Tadvai forest area contributes to large-scale felling of beautiful bamboo groves and other small trees to raise temporary settlement during the Jatara time.