Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao has raised concerns about the construction of a VLF radar station for the Navy in the Damgundam forest area of Vikarabad district. He expressed his party’s strong opposition to the project.
KTR was surprised that, on one hand, the State government is planning to spend Rs 1.5 lakh crore to beautify the Musi River, but on the other hand, it is putting the river at risk by allowing the Navy’s radar project. He questioned why the Chief Minister was supporting this project and what benefits Telangana would gain from it. The BRS party is against the foundation stone being laid for the project by Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday.
KTR warned that building the radar station in Damgundam would cause serious environmental harm. He noted that the project would involve cutting down 12 lakh trees and clearing around 2,900 acres of forest land. He also questioned why a radar center was being built in Telangana, suggesting it should be located in an area with no population. He emphasized that the BRS government has been working to increase forest cover through initiatives like Haritha Haram.
KTR further pointed out that the Centre had declared a 150-km area in Gangotri, where the Ganges originates, as an eco-sensitive zone. He questioned why similar protections were not being applied to the Musi River. He demanded that the area where the Musi River originates also be declared an “Eco Sensitive Zone.” He expressed concern that the radar installation could harm the river, potentially even leading to its destruction.
