Telangana High Court Approves Navy Radar Project with Environmental Safeguards
The Telangana High Court has granted clearance for the Indian Navy's extremely low-frequency radar project at Damagundam in Vikarabad district, while simultaneously ensuring rigorous environmental monitoring. A bench led by Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin ruled that there are no restrictions on proceeding with the project, but it will keep a public interest litigation (PIL) pending to oversee compensatory afforestation efforts.
Court's Directive on Project and Environmental Oversight
During the hearing of the PIL, the bench explicitly stated, "There is no restraint from carrying out the project by the Indian Navy. The project work may go ahead, but the PIL is being kept pending only for the purpose of monitoring the progress report on compensatory afforestation by the forest department in the next six months." The court has scheduled the next hearing for October 5 to review updates on these environmental measures.
Background of the PIL and Land Allocation
The PIL was initiated in February 2020 by the 'Damagundam Forest Protection JAC-Save Damagundam' group, challenging the allocation of 2,900 acres of reserve forest land to the Navy for the radar installation. This legal challenge highlighted concerns over potential ecological impacts, prompting the court to appoint amicus curiae Vivek Jain to inspect and report on afforestation activities.
Assessment of Compensatory Afforestation Efforts
Based on site visits to Thippapur in Vikarabad district and Amangal in Rangareddy district, Jain's report provided a detailed evaluation of plant survival rates and growth. The court found the findings satisfactory, noting the state forest department's efforts. In an additional counter affidavit filed by Ch Ravi Kumar, counsel for the chief conservator of forests, Charminar circle, the department documented compensatory afforestation at Pudur village, approximately 80 kilometers from Hyderabad.
Key statistics from the affidavit include:
- An overall plant survival rate of 89.88%, with 823,531 out of 916,196 plants surviving during the 2024-25 and 2025-26 periods.
- Plans to replace 92,665 dead plants during the 2026-27 monsoon season.
- Additional plantation targets of 552 hectares in 2026-27 and 29.50 hectares in 2027-28.
- Assisted natural regeneration initiatives over 1,778 hectares of degraded reserve forest land.
Court's Observations and Future Plans
The court acknowledged the "sincere" afforestation efforts conducted over 688.5 hectares, with 581.5 hectares remaining to be covered in the upcoming years. It was noted that maintenance of these plantations will continue for a decade, aiming for 100% survival by the end of this period. Counsel for the implead petitioner informed the court that a total of 2,348 hectares of compensatory afforestation is required under stage-2 approval.
Taking into account the ongoing processes, the court observed that afforestation activities are scheduled to continue between May and December. This structured approach ensures that environmental restoration keeps pace with the project's development, balancing national security needs with ecological preservation.
