Navy radar project: Telangana high court pulls up govt over mortality rate of saplings, seeks time-bound afforestation | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: Telangana high court on Monday directed the state govt to complete compensatory afforestation work within a stipulated timeframe to make up for the loss of forest cover during the construction of a radar project for the Indian Navy at Damagundam in Vikarabad district.A bench headed by acting chief justice P Sam Koshy and justice Suddala Chalapathi Rao also sought details of the survival rate of the saplings planted, and whether at least 75% of them had survived.Clarifying that the govt was responsible for replanting withered saplings and for meeting the afforestation target, the bench directed govt to file an additional affidavit detailing the progress of plantation and restoration activities undertaken to compensate for the damage caused to forest land.The bench passed the directions while hearing a PIL challenging the allocation of land for the project, and allegations of large-scale damage to flora and fauna around the project site, and adjourned the matter to Nov 17 for further hearing.The high court had earlier directed the govt to carry out replacement of withered saplings and the afforestation proposed under the target plan between May and Dec 2026.Govt counsel informed the court that, in line with earlier directions, forest department officials had conducted a field inspection to assess the progress of the afforestation work and submitted a report stating that saplings were planted in some areas two years ago and in others a year ago, with about 70% to 80% surviving so far.The govt counsel further submitted that the state had already deposited the amount indicated by the forest department for compensatory afforestation to be carried out in lieu of forest land.He added that the process would take around two years and that plantation, restoration of damaged tree cover and related activities were ongoing.Recording the submissions, the bench questioned what had happened to the remaining 25% to 30% of saplings if only 70% to 75% had survived.The court also asked govt to disclose in its affidavit details of the work pending in the remaining areas and the timeline for completing it.