Archive · 21 Sep 2026
Kawal Reserve Seeks Major One-Kilometre Eco-Sensitive Zone Cut
Officials at Kawal Tiger Reserve want to make a protected area around the reserve smaller.
They proposed reducing it from 10 kilometres to one kilometre from the core area.
They say this could help local people obtain sand for roads and houses.
Residents say the current rules are slowing development work.
Some people have protested and held a relay hunger strike.
They have also questioned the reserve because they say no resident tiger has been seen since it was created in 2012.
The proposal must first be approved by the state government.
It would then need approval from the Ministry of Environment and Forest, while the current rules remain in place.
Kawal tiger reserve officials proposed reducing the eco-sensitive zone from 10 kilometres to one kilometre.
Officials said the proposal aims to address problems faced by local residents.
Restrictions on sand mining have affected roads and Indiramma house construction, residents said.
Protests and a relay hunger strike have taken place in Jannaram over the restrictions.
The existing 10-kilometre restrictions will remain until state and central approvals are obtained.
- Who
- Kawal tiger reserve officials, local residents, the state government and the Ministry of Environment and Forest are involved.
- What
- Officials proposed reducing the eco-sensitive zone from 10 kilometres to one kilometre from the core-area boundary.
- When
- The reserve was created in 2012; the proposal was submitted before the report, while current restrictions remain in force.
- Where
- The reserve covers parts of Adilabad, Nirmal, Komaram Bheem Asifabad and Mancherial districts in Telangana; protests were reported in Jannaram.
- Why
- Officials cited local problems, while residents said sand restrictions were affecting roads and Indiramma house construction.
Local Development Advocates
Conservation Authorities
Size of the protected zone
Local Development Advocates
Residents and reserve officials support reducing the zone to one kilometre to resolve local problems and allow development work.
Conservation Authorities
The existing 10-kilometre restriction remains in force until the proposal receives the required approvals.
Sand-mining restrictions
Local Development Advocates
Residents say limits on sand mining make it difficult to build roads and Indiramma houses.
Conservation Authorities
Forest officials have imposed the restrictions within the eco-sensitive zone, which includes streams, rivulets and the Godavari River.
Need for the reserve
Local Development Advocates
Some local residents have demanded cancellation of the reserve, saying the National Tiger Conservation Authority has declared that no resident tiger has been sighted since 2012.
Conservation Authorities
Reserve officials are seeking a change to the zone’s extent rather than announcing cancellation of the Kawal Tiger Reserve.
- Current eco-sensitive zone
- 10 kilometres from the boundary of the core area
- Proposed zone
- One kilometre from the boundary of the core area
- Affected activities
- Sand mining, road construction and construction of Indiramma houses
- Reserve districts
- Adilabad, Nirmal, Komaram Bheem Asifabad and Mancherial
- Protest location
- Jannaram
- Required approvals
- The state government must clear the proposal and forward it to the Ministry of Environment and Forest
- Current status
- The 10-kilometre restriction remains in force until approval