Navy Radar Station in Vikarabad to wipe out 12.50 lakh trees, flora, fauna in 3,000 acres to be wiped out

HYDERABAD: Telangana government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Eastern Naval Command to establish a Very Low-Frequency (VLF) communication Navy Radar Station in Vikarabad, located 73 kilometers away from Hyderabad.

The decision comes after a proposal from the Indian Navy, which identified Telangana as the preferred location for its second VLF station, crucial for enhancing naval communication with ships and submarines. The chosen site, the Damagudem forest area near Puduru in Vikarabad mandal, was selected for its strategic suitability.

However, the move has sparked widespread opposition from local residents, environmental activists and opposition parties. Concerns have been raised about the potential environmental impact and biodiversity loss due to deforestation in the region. Former IT minister and BRS leader KT Rama Rao voiced his dissatisfaction, urging the Congress government to reconsider the decision. Rao highlighted the irreversible damage to well-grown trees and the region's delicate ecosystem, emphasising the repercussions for future generations.

Former IT minister and BRS leader KTR Rama Rao took to 'X' (formally Twitter) and said, "Chopping away 12 Lakh well grown Trees spread over 3,000 acres of Forest area besides destroying the Bio-Diversity of the region where River Musi originates is a major mistake. We had resisted this for over 10 years, and the new government in Telangana capitulated in less than 10 days without thinking of the consequences. Request the state government to reconsider their decision, which will adversely affect future generations of Telangana."

A resident of Vikarabad expressed opposition to the decision, saying, "We've been against this for a while and will continue to oppose it. There are numerous exotic locations in the country, so why does the Navy insist on building their VLF communication Navy Radar Station here? We value our ecosystem and vehemently oppose any disturbance, including deforestation. We urge the government to reconsider this project."

Despite opposition, an agreement for the transfer of forest lands was signed between the State Government and Naval Command Agency officials. Legal proceedings ensued, with a petition filed by Damagudem Forest Protection in court, leading to orders to proceed with precautions according to government-defined conditions.

The Union Forest and Environment Department approved the Navy's proposal in 2014, allocating 1,174 hectares of forest land within the Damagudem Reserve Forest. Additionally, the Navy paid Rs 18.56 crore for land conservation measures, while Campa funds of Rs133.54 crore were allocated for the forest land handover.

The project entails the construction of a naval unit's township to accommodate approximately 600 naval personnel and civilians. Measures will be implemented to preserve biodiversity, including extensive road construction and land conservation efforts funded by Campa. The VLF center is slated for completion by 2027, with strict measures in place to mitigate environmental impact.