Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Telangana Minister for Forest, Environment and Endowments, Konda Surekha, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting tribal rights and forest laws. Chairing the Telangana State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) meeting, she stressed that development would not come at the cost of ecological balance or Adivasi welfare.

The meeting, co-chaired by Panchayat Raj Minister Dr. Anasuya Seethakka, included MLAs and senior forest officials. Key discussions focused on evaluating development projects in forest zones while upholding conservation norms.

Of six road proposals in wildlife areas, only one was approved by the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). The rest were rejected for linking unauthorized tribal settlements, risking forest rule violations. Out of eight Optic Fiber Cable (OFC) proposals, five within permitted Right of Way were cleared. The remaining three, cutting through forest land, were approved by NBWL during its June 2025 session.

The Board rejected a proposal to build an 11KV power line and road in Mulugu due to ecological concerns. Meanwhile, the Peddagattu Lift Irrigation Project in Nalgonda received NBWL clearance after a detailed review. To safeguard wildlife, revised designs for underpasses were recommended across 22 rural roads. DFOs were tasked with adapting these based on terrain and animal movement patterns.

The Board also proposed expanding protected areas and establishing a Tiger Cell at Aranya Bhavan to monitor big cat activity and human-wildlife conflict in sensitive districts. Minister Surekha concluded that every project will be guided by a dual focus—forest-first and people-first—ensuring both conservation and tribal dignity are upheld without compromise.