FOREST DEPARTMENT

INTRODUCTION:

RECOGNITION OF FOREST RIGHTS (RoFR):

After reorganization of the Division, the Wanaparthy Division (District) with Reserve Forest area of 11319.83 Ha Area.
The Wanaparthy District Forest with an extent of 111.67 Sq. Km. The total Forest Area of the District is 111.67 Sq.Kms. The jurisdiction of the Division extends over (14) Revenue Mandals, (10) Forest Blocks (10112.94 Ha) & (14) CA Lands (1207.881 Ha) (Lands given to the Forest Department in lieu of the Forest lands diverted for various developmental projects in the state) of the District. This Geographical area of this district is 2152.00 Sq.Kms out of which 111.67 Sq.KM is Forest area which is 5.20% of Geographical Area.

Forest Area:

The total Geographical area of the Division : 2152.00 Sq.Km
Forest area as per notification : 111.67 Sq.Km

Main objectives of the Act:

To recognize and vest the forest rights and occupation in forest land in forest dwelling scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers who have been residing in such forests for generations but whose rights could not be recorded and to provide for a framework for recording the forest rights so vested and nature of evidence required for such recognition and vesting in respect of forest The Act is being implemented by involving the Panchayat Raj Institutions, right from the village level to the District level in a truly democratic way.

The Scheduled Tribes and other traditional Forest dwellers Rules 2008:

The ministry of Tribal affairs has notified the scheduled tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Rules 2008 on 01/01/2008 for implementing the provisions of the Act. These rules envisage the initiation of the process of determination of forest rights at the level of Gram Sabha, which will be scrutinized at Sub Divisional Level committee after which the District Level committee will approve / award forest rights.

Scheduled Tribes in Telangana:

This provision makes it clear that GOI have already recognized the rights of scheduled Tribes & Other Traditional Forest Dwellers in forests and what is left to be done is recording of the same & issuance of title deeds.

Wildlife Areas:

This is dealt in detail in Section 4 (2) and Section 2 (b) of the Act.

Section 4 (2):

The forest rights recognized under this Act in critical wildlife habitats of National Parks and Sanctuaries may subsequently be modified or resettled. This clearly implies that the rights of eligible beneficiaries should be recorded first without any except of compromise.

Section 2 (b):

“Critical Wildlife habitat” means such areas of National Parks and sanctuaries where it has been specifically and clearly established, case by case on the basis of scientific and objective criteria, that such areas are required to be kept as inviolate for the purpose of wildlife conservation as may be determined and notified by the Central Government in the Ministry of Environment and Forests after open process of consultation by an Expert committee, which includes experts from the locally appointed by that Government where in a representative of the Ministry Tribal Affairs shall also be included, in determining such areas according to the procedural requirements arising from sub-section (1) and (2) of Section

The above sections make it clear that the Forest Rights in National Parks and Sanctuaries have to be recognized as per the Act and their relocation.

The Chief activities under the Act:

Issue of notification by the Gram sabha inviting claims.
Verification of claims.
Mapping of occupations and framing of resolutions.
Review of Gram sabha resolutions and preparation of record of rights by Sub division level committee.
Review of the records submitted by the Sub Division level committees and vesting of rights by the District Level committees.

Functions of Gram Sabhas:

Initiate the process of determining the nature and extent of forest rights, receive and hear the claims relating thereto;
Prepare a list of claimants of forests rights and maintain a register.
Pass a resolution on claims on forest rights after giving reasonable opportunity to interested persons and forward the same to the Sub-Divisional Level committee.
Consider resettlement packages under clause (e) of Sub section (2) of section 4 of the Act and pass appropriate resolutions.
Constitute committee for the protection of wildlife, forest and biodiversity, from amongst its members.

Functions of Sub- Divisional Level Committee:

Provide information to each Gram Sabha about their duties and duties of holder of forest rights and others towards protection of wildlife, forest and biodiversity with reference to critical flora and fauna which need to be conserved and protected.
Provide forest and revenue maps and electoral rolls to the Gram sabha or the forest rights committee.
Collate all the resolutions of the concerned Gram sabhas.
Consolidate maps and details provided by the Gram sabhas.
Examine the resolutions and the maps of the Gram sabhas to ascertain the veracity of the claims.
Hear and adjudicate disputes between gram sabhas.
Coordinate with other Sub-divisional level committees for inter sub divisional claims.
Forward the claims to the District Level committee for final decision.

Involvement of NGOs:

NGOs especially those working in forest areas may be involved in all activities including training, awareness, implementation and monitoring of programmes.

Status of the Title deeds issued / Rejected by the Sub-Divisional Committee:

RoFR title Deeds issued in Wanaparthy District

No of claims received				No of claims Accepted				No of claims Rejected
Individual		Community		Individual		Community		Individual		Community
No	Area in Acres	No	Area in Acres	No	Area in Acres	No	Area in Acres	No	Area in Acres	No	Area in Acres
46	88.037	01	1.850	46	88.037	01	1.850	—	—	—	—

The Geographical area of the District : 531770.78 Acres
Total forest area of Wanaparthy District : 27594.25 Acres which is 5.20% of the Geographical area of the District.

Total No. of Reserve Forest Blocks: 10

Urban Forest Parks: 2

- Two at Wanaparthy: Urban Park-I (Eco Park) in Wanaparthy RF (222.39 Acres) at Srinivasapur and Urban Park-II at Wanaparthy RF. 32.61 Acres.
- Urban Park-I (Eco Park) is already opened for public and remaining (1) is under Development.
- Urban Park-I (Eco Park) is protected by fencing and fencing work is started for Urban Park-II.
- Total amount spent – Rs. 240.231 Lakhs.
- Total plants planted in (2) parks are 29700 Nos.

Activities taken inside Forests:

Block plantations done from 2015 to 2021: 921.65 Acres
of plants planted inside Forests from 2015: 2.799 lakhs
Planting Target for 2022-23 : 675.51 Acres (2.894 lakh seedlings)
Avenue Plantation raised by Forest Department: 100.00 kms (Plants Planted : 38727).
Continuous Peripheral Trench : 109.55 kms.
Erection of 3.300 Km Chainlink mesh with Iron Angulars around the Eco Park, Wanaparthy.
Providing See Through Wall erection of 1.29 Kms Chainlink Mesh at side of the Eco Park.

Forest Rejuvenation:

Area feasible for treatment is 20541.15 Acres. 4889.67 Acres is already treated and 2230 Acres is proposed for treatment during 2022-23 and Balance 13421.10 Acres is proposed for treatment in 2023-24.
All RF blocks will be rejuvenated / treated by 2023-24.

Total expenditure since 2015:

Forest Rejuvenation –Rs. 420.66 Lakhs.
Boundary protection – Rs. 339.27 Lakhs.

Telanganaku Haritha Haram: Plantation done since 2015 to till date: 2.527 Cr plants.

TKHH 2017 Planting Season:

Planting Target -80.00Lakhs
Plants planted –61.63Lakhs
Achievement –03%

TKHH 2018 Planting Season:

Planting Target –50.00Lakhs
Plants planted –39.79Lakhs
Achievement –79.58%.

TKHH 2019 Planting Season:

Planting Target -167.61Lakhs
Plants planted –42.84Lakhs
Achievement –25.559%.

TKHH 2020 Planting Season:

Planting Target –47.64Lakhs
Plants planted –47.71Lakhs
Achievement –100%.

TKHH 2021 Planting Season:

Planting Target–26.79Lakhs
Plants planted–29.47Lakhs
Achievement –100%.

TKHH 2022 Planting Season:

Planting Target–16.07Lakhs
Plants planted –36.23Lakhs
Achievement –100%.

BlockPlantations:

Raising:

Area– 234.37Ha
PlantsPlanted–196110Nos
Plantssurviving–196110 Nos
%ofSurvival–100%

1st Year Maintenance:

Area – 40.00 Ha (CAMPA – 40.00 Ha)
Plants Planted – 17810 Nos
Plants surviving – 16235 Nos
% of Survival – 91.15%

2nd Year Maintenance:

Area – 10.00 Ha (CAMPA – 10.00 Ha)
Plants Planted – 11110 Nos
Plants surviving – 9605 Nos
% of Survival – 86.45%

Continuous Peripheral Trench:

Target:168.00 kms
Achievement:109.55Kms

Bund Stabilization:

Target:41.50Kms
PlantsPlanted:47630Nos
PlantsSurviving:45534Nos
%ofSurvival–95.59%

Eco Park Haritha Vanam:

Objectives:

Urban Lung Space is planned for the purpose of creating awareness towards Forests and WildLife, Recreation to all categories of people for their overall Development (Physical and Mental).
To Protect and preserve the Natural and cultural resources of the Parks so they will be available to future generations. And to provide for the Public Enjoyment.
It was planned to develop Urban Lung Space at Wanaparthy Reserved Forest, near Srinivasapur, wherein it is planned to Develop Walk Path, Landscape Gardens, and Children Play Ground, amenities to the visitors etc.,

Works Completed:

Children’s Play Ground,
Kartika Vanam
Nakshatra Vanam
Herbal Gardens,
Model statues of Dinosaurs,
Yoga Shed,
Miyawaki Plantation,
Walking track,
Pagoda,
The park is protected with chainlink fencing & see through wall etc,

Future Plan:

It is planned to develop Greenery by Plantation, Butterfly Park, Maintenance of Lawns & Plantations, Cycling Track, Water Fountains, Visitors Amenities etc.,

RECOGNITION OF FOREST RIGHTS (RoFR):

After reorganization of the Division, the Wanaparthy Division (District) with Reserve Forest area of 11319.83 Ha Area.
The Wanaparthy District Forest with an extent of 111.67 Sq. Km. The total Forest Area of the District is 111.67 Sq.Kms. The jurisdiction of the Division extends over (14) Revenue Mandals, (10) Forest Blocks (10112.94 Ha) & (14) CA Lands (1207.881 Ha) (Lands given to the Forest Department in lieu of the Forest lands diverted for various developmental projects in the state) of the District. This Geographical area of this district is 2152.00 Sq.Kms out of which 111.67 Sq.KM is Forest area which is 5.20% of Geographical Area.

Forest Area:

The total Geographical area of the Division : 2152.00 Sq.Km
Forest area as per notification : 111.67 Sq.Km

Main objectives of the Act:

The Scheduled Tribes and other traditional Forest dwellers Rules 2008:

Scheduled Tribes in Telangana:

Wildlife Areas: