Vikarabad Navy radar project cleared by HC; afforestation tracked
HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court on Wednesday cleared the way for the Indian Navy’s extremely low frequency radar project at Damagundam in Vikarabad district. It will continue to monitor environmental safeguards linked to the project.
A bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G M Mohiuddin said the project can proceed without restrictions. However, the court kept the public interest litigation (PIL) pending for six months to track compensatory afforestation.
“There is no restraint on carrying out the project by the Indian Navy. The work may go ahead. We are keeping the PIL pending only to monitor the forest department’s progress on compensatory afforestation over the next six months,” the bench said.
The court posted the next hearing for October 5.
PIL challenges forest land allotment
Damagundam Forest Protection JAC–Save Damagundam filed the PIL in February 2020. It challenged the allotment of 2,900 acres of reserve forest land to the Navy.
Earlier, the court appointed amicus curiae Vivek Jain to inspect afforestation efforts and submit a report. He visited Thippapur in Vikarabad district and Amangal in Rangareddy district. His report assessed plant survival and growth.
The court found the findings satisfactory.
Survival rate at 89.88%
The forest department submitted details through an additional counter affidavit. Counsel Ch Ravi Kumar presented the data.
The affidavit detailed compensatory afforestation at Pudur village, about 80 km from Hyderabad. It stated that 8,23,531 out of 9,16,196 plants survived in 2024-25 and 2025-26. The overall survival rate stood at 89.88%.
The department plans to replace 92,665 dead plants during the 2026-27 monsoon.
It also plans plantation over 552 hectares in 2026-27 and 29.50 hectares in 2027-28. In addition, it will take up assisted natural regeneration over 1,778 hectares of degraded forest land.
The court noted “sincere afforestation efforts” across 688.5 hectares. It said 581.5 hectares still need coverage over the next two years. The department will maintain plantations for 10 years to ensure survival.
Counsel for the implead petitioner told the court that stage-2 approval requires afforestation over 2,348 hectares.
The court noted the ongoing efforts and said afforestation will continue between May and December. It then adjourned the matter.
