Hyderabad: The Telangana wildlife department has begun monitoring the area in and around the site of the upcoming naval station at Damagundam reserve forest in Vikarabad. Camera traps have been set up near water sources in the area to capture the movements of wildlife. The site, which is not a protected wildlife sanctuary but a reserve forest, is known to have leopards, nilgai, deer and wild boar.
Chief wildlife warden Elusing Meru visited the site on Monday along with a team and held discussions with navy officials about wildlife management in the area. Meru confirmed that the project proponent secured all necessary clearances, including forest clearances from both the central and state govts. He said that the origin source of the Musi would not be affected by the project.
On Oct 15, defence minister Rajnath Singh and chief minister A Revanth Reddy laid the foundation stone for the Very Low Frequency (VLF) station of the navy at the Damagundam site. The VLF station, spread over 2,900 acres, is estimated to cost Rs 3,200 crore. The station is designed to enhance the navy’s operational readiness by bolstering long-distance communication infrastructure.
Environmental and wildlife activists, however, have expressed fears that the project will impact the Musi origin and biodiversity of the area.
Addressing the issue, Rajnath Singh said that all environmental norms were strictly followed. He stressed the govt’s commitment to sustainable development, ensuring that the VLF station’s latest technology minimises environmental impact.
In addition to its various animals, the Damagundam reserve forest is recognised for its avian diversity. Birdwatchers had earlier documented over 200 species in the area. Checklists from eBird indicate sightings of species such as the common iora, among others, spotted in the area.
