Telangana opposes to uranium exploration in tiger reserve

Naveen S Garewal
Tribune News Service
Hyderabad, July 8

Telangana’s forest department has refused to allow uranium exploration in the Amarabad Tiger Reserve, more than a month after the central government gave clearance for the project.  

The central government had given “in-principle” approval for the project at a meeting in May despite opposition from Telangana’s forest department.  Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) had submitted a proposal some three years ago to carry out survey and drilling of boreholes in the area known as the Rajiv Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary within the tiger reserve. Of the four blocks where the DAE wants to start drilling, three are located in core tiger areas, where tigers need most protection.

The forest department said the exploration could affect the ecosystem in the reserve.

The DEA wants to explore 83 square km of the reserve that’s spread over 2,800 sq km, but state government officials resist the project saying that the exact area for the proposed exploration has not yet been specified, and so that impact such a project would have on the ecosystem of the place cannot be conclusively determined, although they say it would be adverse.

The project involves drilling boreholes for mining uranium in four blocks.

Telangana’s Principal Chief Conservator of Forests PK Jha said no drilling would be allowed inside the reserve without clearance from the National Tiger Conservation Authority.

Details of the approval, released by state officials, say that while it was giving an “in-principal” approval because uranium was of critical importance to the nation, DAE must get clearances from relevant authorities before it went ahead with the project.

The state government argues that movement of vehicles and machinery in the area would likely affect biodiversity. Additionally, “the mining will cause erosion, formation of sinkholes, loss of biodiversity, and contamination of soil”.

The reserve is home to tigers, leopards, spotted and barking deer, wild bores, striped hyenas, and rock pythons, and also several medicinal plants that include some endangered species.