Illegal mining damaging ecology at Inuparathigutta reserve forests

Warangal: The ecological system at Inuparathigutta reserve forests, the only biggest forest block Warangal Urban district, is now affected by illegal mining activities by mining mafia.

The illegal mining activity in the forests located at Devunoor in Dharmasagar mandal feared to upset the forest department’s plan to convert the forest area into Ecological Park. The forest block spread across 800 hectares in the village and its surroundings is the biggest green space available in the district.

According to the forest officials, the district has got only one per cent forest area of less than 2,000 hectares. It may be noted that the district tourism and forest departments have recently started night camping at Inuparathigutta hillocks to promote eco-tourism activities in the district.
District Collector Amrapali Kata, chief conservator of forests (CCF) M J Akbar, Station Ghanpur MLA Dr T Rajaiah and others also trekked through the forest area and picked up the area for trekking and ecotourism.

Nonetheless, the mining mafia, unmindful of the importance of the forest area, is excavating the hillocks to unearth granite stones seriously damaging the forests flora and fauna. The locals and Vana Seva Society, who objected the mining activity, took the matter to the notice of the forest department.

However, the mining activity has been going on uninterrupted. When contacted, district forest officer Aparna Syal told The Hans India on Monday, that they have stopped the mining in the forests after the issue was brought to the notice sometime back. ‘We will take serious measures if it is still going on,’ she said.

But the villagers and the Vana Seva Society members are complaining that when the forest officials visit the area the works are being stopped and later they continue. The district administration has to take serious action in this case to protect the forest area, demanded the society president P Veerabhadra Rao.

The meagre forest covers the district has got disappearing fast due to the greed of mining mafia and others. Higher officials have to act against local forest and revenue officials, who allegedly supporting the mining mafia backed by political leaders. The forest has to be declared as protected area and strict measures have to be initiated against the trespassers, the society general secretary G Nagesh demanded.