Environmentalists oppose the VLF station, fearing it will harm the forest's rich vegetation and rare species. They worry that the project could dry up the Musi River, which originates from these jungles near Hyderabad.
Published Oct 15, 2024 | 7:04 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 15, 2024 | 8:07 PM
Rajnath Singh lays foundation stone for VLF station in Vikarabad woods
The display of camaraderie between a ‘Congress Chief Minister’ and a ‘BJP Union minister’ was unmissable in Telangana on Tuesday, 15 October. It came with a generous dollop of ‘national security’ push.
Even as environmental activists are crying foul, the foundation stone for the Very Low Frequency (VLF) radar station was laid by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The station will come up in the sylvan woods of Damagundam at Pudur in Vikarabad district in Telangana.
Environmental activists have been agitating against the location of the VLF station, as they believe, it would sound the death knell for the rich vegetation of the forest known for its exotic fauna and rare flora. They are also worried that the Musi River, which originates from these jungles, might dry up if the trees are felled to make way for the VLF station, which would deprive the local populace of their very livelihood.
Rajnath Singh, after unveiling a tablet symbolising the laying of foundation stone for the VLF station, said that a powerful navy would always ensure peace. He said: “India wants peace in the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean. The VLF station would help in stepping up the navy’s maritime capabilities.”
He sought to win the people of the villages in the Damagundam forest by saying that the VLF station that will come up in 2,900 acres would spur economic growth in the nearby areas also, providing employment to the youth. He expressed the wish that VLF station would act as a “growth pole,” driving economic development in the entire region. He said it would also stimulate growth in other areas nearby, benefiting the dwellers of the jungles to a great extent.
The navy has been saying that the township that comes up in this area would have schools, hospitals, banks and markets. About 3,000 people live in the township including 600 naval staff. It has consented to allow the visit to the Ramalingeswara Swamy temple in the deep woods as it is a sentimental issue. Even Revanth Reddy had sought the Defence minister to allow the devotees access to the temple. The project is expected to be completed by 2027.
Meanwhile, the activists who have been fighting against VLF station are planning to actively pursue legal recourse. “The Defence Minister only laid the foundation stone. There are two organisations which are fighting for the Damagunda forest. There is already one petition in the High Court. I will be supporting the cause of these Joint Action committees,” said Tulsi Chandu, an independent journalist who has been campaigning against the VLF station. She has been campaigning on social media against the location of the VLF station.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy in his address at the foundation stone laying ceremony, pledged his government’s support for the VLF station as he believed country’s defence preparedness supersedes any other concern. He allayed the fears of the environmental activists that biodiversity of the region would not be affected as necessary measures would be taken.
He used the occasion to slam BRS working president K T Rama Rao for opposing the location of the VLF station in Damagundam forest. The chief minister sought to nail Rama Rao by saying that it was during the previous BRS regime that all the clearances were given for the project. He said it was strange how KTR could oppose a project for which the earlier BRS government had given clearance, unless he had a political axe to grind against the Congress government.
Revanth Reddy said, “the environment is important, but it is more important that people remain alive to benefit from it. The VLF station would be in the interests of the country’s security.” Revanth said though he belonged to Congress and Rajnath Singh to the BJP, he had decided to fully back the centre’s move to setup the VLF station as it is essential for the defence of the country.
He referred to a similar VLF station in Tamil Nadu whose presence had not harmed the ecology there. He assured Rajanth Singh not to bother about the BRS’ criticism since his government was committed to extending cooperation to the centre in setting up the VLF station.
On Monday, 14 October, KT Rama Rao said that he opposed the setting up of the VLF station and that his government would join hands with the environmental activists in fighting against it. He said that if the VLF station is set up in Damagundam, Musi River which originates there would soon disappear due to the ecological disturbance. He had said that though there was pressure on the BRS for the last 10 years for clearances, they did not yield.
He said the projects like VLF stations should be set up in areas where there are no human habitations. He said he did not understand why the VLF station was being set up in Damagundam and for whose interests. “Any area from where a river originates should be declared as an eco-sensitive zone as was done in the case of Ganges. How come there is a different yardstick for Musi?” he asked. The BRS leader, however, steered clear of mentioning his party’s role in sanctioning the radar station when it was in power.
In an attempt to nail KTR’s misleading claims, the Chief Minister’s office on Monday night released the timeline of clearances given by the BRS dispensation for the project.
The CMO’s press release said that the Congress government only transferred the land for which final approval was given by the previous BRS government. It had issued a GO Ms.No. 44 on December 12, 2017 through Environment, Forests, Science & Tech Department approving a diversion of 1174.00 Ha (2,900 acres) of forest land in Damagundam Reserve Forest of Hyderabad Division for setting of VLF Station / Naval Base
The press release said that KTR stood exposed of his double speak when he said that the BRS government had opposed the VLF station. It said that chief minister Revanth Reddy implemented the decision as he believed in continuity of work even after the change of the government.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
