Latest news with #GO49
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Tribal outcry forces govt to put tiger corridor GO on hold
Hyderabad: In a U-turn, Telangana govt on Monday put govt order (GO) 49 in abeyance following protests from tribals, opposition parties, and even voices within the Congress. The order, issued on May 30, notified 1,492.88 sq km across Asifabad and Kagaznagar forest divisions as the Kumuram Bheem Conservation Reserve, intended to formalize a crucial tiger corridor linking Kawal Tiger Reserve in Telangana and Tadoba Andhari reserve in Maharashtra. Amid growing fears of displacement in nearly 339 tribal villages and a complete bandh in the erstwhile Adilabad district on Monday, the state govt was compelled to retract. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad The decision was made after a delegation led by panchayat raj minister D Anasuya (Seethakka), Adilabad in charge minister Jupally Krishna Rao, forest minister Konda Surekha, and local MLA Vedma Bhojju met chief minister A Revanth Reddy. "The Congress-led people's govt will always stand by the children of the forest. Adivasis and tribals should not have any concerns over GO 49," Konda Surekha told the media in Warangal. Widespread Resistance and Fear of Eviction The GO sparked backlash from tribal rights groups, including Tudum Debba, whose leader, Godam Ganesh, said the corridor will adversely impact tribal livelihoods and lead to mass displacements. "We fear it will affect 339 tribal villages across Asifabad and Kagaznagar," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo A bandh called by Tudum Debba on Monday, shut down businesses, schools, and public transport across four districts. CPI and CPM functionaries also extended support to the agitation, accusing the govt of attempting to alienate tribal land. The protests were further fuelled by a letter — allegedly from CPI (Maoist) — which called on Seethakka to ensure protection for tribals in the affected areas. Seethakka, who has tribal roots and is an ex-Maoist herself, questioned the letter's authenticity, but said she would not allow any decision that harmed forest-dwelling communities. "The moment concerns were raised about GO 49, I spoke directly with relevant officials. I will never allow any policy to harm tribal livelihoods in the name of forest or wildlife conservation," she said. Ecological Significance of the Corridor The now-suspended Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve was conceived as a vital ecological link for tiger movement and genetic exchange between major reserves. The area connects Kawal with Tadoba, Tipeshwar, Kanhargaon, Chaprala in Maharashtra, and Indravati in Chhattisgarh. Apart from tigers, it supports leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears, wolves, hyenas, and over 240 bird species, including the endangered Malabar pied hornbill and long-billed vulture. According to the GO, the presence of breeding tigers and consistent inter-state dispersal events over the last decade underscore the importance of the region for long-term conservation. The proposed area includes 78 reserved forest blocks across 10 mandals. Conservationists Disappointed at Policy Reversal While tribal communities welcomed the decision, wildlife experts expressed concern over the govt's handling of the matter. "The decision to keep Kumuram Bheem Conservation Reserve in abeyance following tribal protests is unfortunate — not because the concerns of local communities are invalid, but because it reflects a failure of dialogue," Imran Siddiqui, senior field conservationist at the Centre for Wildlife Studies and co-founder of HYTICOS, said. "Conservation should never be imposed, but co-created with the people who have lived in and protected these forests for generations. Rather than abandon protection, we must work harder to build trust and ensure that conservation uplifts both nature and indigenous livelihoods," he said. Efforts by forest officers to allay fears and communicate that no immediate evictions are planned failed to gain traction. The forest department has now been asked to submit a fresh report, and the CM's office has indicated the policy may be revisited after further consultations. A senior forest officer told TOI: "We are hoping the GO will be revived later. We will continue to crack down on encroachments on forest land."
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Tribal outcry forces govt to put GO on tiger corridor in abeyance
Hyderabad: In a U-turn, the Telangana govt on Monday put govt order (GO) 49 in abeyance following protests from tribals, opposition parties, and even voices within the ruling Congress. The order, issued on May 30, notified 1,492.88 sq km across Asifabad and Kagaznagar forest divisions as the Kumuram Bheem Conservation Reserve, intended to formalise a crucial tiger corridor linking Kawal Tiger Reserve in Telangana and Tadoba Andhari reserve in Maharashtra. However, amid growing fears of displacement in nearly 339 tribal villages, and a complete bandh in the erstwhile Adilabad district on Monday, the govt was compelled to retract. The decision was made after a delegation led by panchayat raj minister D Anasuya (Seethakka), Adilabad in charge minister Jupally Krishna Rao, forest minister Konda Surekha, and local MLA Vedma Bhojju met chief minister A Revanth Reddy. "The Congress-led people's govt will always stand by the children of the forest. Adivasis and tribals should not have any concerns over GO 49," forest minister Konda Surekha told the media in Warangal. Widespread Resistance and Fear of EvictionThe GO sparked backlash from tribal rights groups, including Tudum Debba, whose leader Godam Ganesh said the corridor would adversely impact tribal livelihoods and lead to mass displacement. "We fear it will affect 339 tribal villages across Asifabad and Kagaznagar," he said. A bandh, called by Tudum Debba on Monday, shut down businesses, schools, and public transport across four districts. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad CPI and CPM leaders also extended support to the agitation, accusing the govt of attempting to alienate tribal land. The protests were further fuelled by a letter — allegedly from CPI (Maoist) — which called on minister Seethakka to ensure protection for tribals in affected areas. Seethakka, who has tribal roots and was an ex-Maoist herself, dismissed the letter's authenticity but said she would not allow any decision that harmed forest-dwelling communities. "The moment concerns were raised about GO 49, I spoke directly with relevant officials. I will never allow any policy to harm tribal livelihoods in the name of forest or wildlife conservation," she said. Ecological Significance of the Corridor The now-suspended Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve was conceived as a vital ecological link for tiger movement and genetic exchange between major reserves. The area connects Kawal with Tadoba, Tipeshwar, Kanhargaon, Chaprala in Maharashtra, and Indravati in Chhattisgarh. It supports not only tigers but also leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears, wolves, hyenas, and over 240 bird species, including the endangered Malabar pied hornbill and long-billed vulture. According to the GO, the presence of breeding tigers and consistent inter-state dispersal events over the past decade underscore the importance of the region for long-term conservation. The proposed area includes 78 reserved forest blocks across 10 mandals. Conservationists Disappointed at Policy ReversalWhile tribal communities welcomed the decision, wildlife experts expressed concern over the govt's handling of the matter. "The decision to keep the Kumuram Bheem Conservation Reserve in abeyance following tribal protests is unfortunate — not because the concerns of local communities are invalid, but because it reflects a failure of dialogue," said Imran Siddiqui, senior field conservationist at the Centre for Wildlife Studies and co-founder of HYTICOS. "Conservation should never be imposed, but co-created with the people who have lived in and protected these forests for generations. Rather than abandon protection, we must work harder to build trust and ensure that conservation uplifts both nature and indigenous livelihoods," he said. Efforts by forest officials to allay fears and communicate that no immediate evictions were planned failed to gain traction. The forest department has now been asked to submit a fresh report, and the CM's office has indicated the policy might be revisited after further consultations. A senior forest official told TOI, "We are hoping the GO will be revived later. We will continue to crack down on encroachments of forest land. "
The Hindu
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Adivasi organisations observe bandh against GO 49 in Telangana's tribal heartland of Adilabad district
The Agency areas of the erstwhile Adilabad district witnessed a near total bandh in response to a call given by the Adivasi Hakkula Porata Samithi (Tudum Debba) against the Government Order No 49 announcing 'Kumram Bheem Conservation Reserve'. The GO 49, dated May 30, 2025, declared the tiger corridor straddling between the Kawal Tiger Reserve in Telangana and the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra as the conservation reserve. Adivasi organisations like Tudum Debba have been vociferously opposing the GO 49, saying the proposed conservation reserve will lead to largescale displacement of Adivasis from their traditional habitat and loss of their forest-based livelihoods, leaving them with uncertain future. The bandh evoked good response in the agency areas of Telangana's tribal heartland of former composite Adilabad district with shops and other business establishments downing their shutters voluntarily in response to the bandh call. The impact of the bandh was felt in most parts of Kumram Bheem Asifabad and Adilabad districts. Normal life was cripped in several agency mandals in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district. The TGSRTC bus services were disrupted for a few hours on Monday morning. The bandh evoked partial response in Mancherial and Nirmal districts, sources said. Members of various Adivasi organisations staged a sit-in at the bus depot in Adilabad town on Monday morning. Addressing the demonstrators, Tudum Debba State leader Godam Ganesh alleged that the GO 49 is violative of the rights of Adivasi communities in scheduled areas protected by special legislations like the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act. The proposed conservation reserve will not only lead to largescale displacement of Adivasis from more than 300 tribal settlements along the fringes of forests in the erstwhile Adilabad district but also snatch away their traditional livelihoods and threaten their age-old traditions and customs, he said. He demanded that the GO 49 be immediately scrapped to protect the interests of tribal people.
Hans India
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Movement against GO 49 intensifies
Asifabad: The movement launched by tribals in stages to protest the government's establishment of a Tiger Zone in the name of forest conservation is taking a serious shape. The agitations, which have so far been limited to dharnas and roadblocks, are intensifying by the day, which is becoming a headache for the government. As part of this, tribal groups called for an agency bandh on Monday. The government has alerted the police apparatus to take precautions to prevent these protests from turning violent. Meanwhile, sources reveal that there is some fear among leaders of the ruling party in that that they will go to thousands of tribal villages to ask for votes for the upcoming local elections. The government issued GO 49 in May this year, including 339 villages in the agency in the Tiger Zone. Tribal groups are deeply angry over these orders. Alleging that the government has brought these orders to keep the tribals away from the forests, they launched a movement against the Tiger Zone. Public groups are giving full support to this movement.
Hans India
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Tribals vow to intensify protests until GO 49 revoked
Asifabad: Tribal organisations have made it clear that they will intensify their struggles until GO 49 issued by the government in the name of Tiger Zone formation is revoked. To this end, nine tribal organisations met at the Adivasi Bhavan in the district centre on Saturday and revealed plan to block the formation of the Tiger Zone. In this regard, it was decided to organise meetings in all tribal villages of the district on July 6 and explain the losses caused by the Tiger Zone. They also called for dharnas in front of all the forest range offices and tahsildar offices on July 14 and for a joint Adilabad district bandh on July 21. It was decided to hold a grand dharna in front of the Komaram Bheem District Collectorate on July 28. Thudum Deb State President Vijay called for these agitation programmes to be successful.
