The Telangana High Court has given the go-ahead to the Navy to proceed with its proposed very low frequency (VLF) radar station project in the Damagundum reserve forest area of Vikarabad district.
Some environmentalist groups and civil society organisations have been opposing the project on the ground that it would lead to environmental degradation and loss of livelihood source for locals.
While giving the green signal to the prestigious defence project, the court has kept the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) pending for a period of six months to monitor the progress of compensatory afforestation.
The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin, heard the PIL filed by Damagundum Forest Protection Joint Action Committee (JAC) – “Save Damagundam”—challenging the allotment of about 2,900 acres of reserve forest land to the Indian Navy.
The Bench said there shall be no restraint on the execution of the project. The court took on record the report submitted by the amicus curiae, Vivek Jain, who inspected afforestation sites at Thippapur in Vikarabad district and Amangal in Rangareddy district.
The report indicated that the survival rate of plantations ranged between 70 to 80 per cent, with plant heights generally between one to one-and-a-half metres, extending up to three metres in certain areas.
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The court observed that the afforestation works were satisfactory. Referring to the approvals granted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the court noted that Stage-I approval for diversion of about 2,900 acres of forest land was accorded on January 15, 2014, and Stage-II approval was granted on December 19, 2017, subject to conditions.
As per the project report, compensatory afforestation is being undertaken over 1,079 hectares in Vikarabad district and 1,269 hectares in Rangareddy district. Ravi Kumar, counsel for the Chief Conservator of Forests, Charminar Circle, placed on record an additional counter-affidavit detailing the afforestation measures.
It was stated that out of 9,16,196 saplings planted during 2024–25 and 2025–26, about 8,23,531 have survived, reflecting a survival rate of 89.88 per cent. The affidavit further indicated that 92,665 saplings identified as dead would be replaced during the 2026–27 monsoon season. The affidavit also outlined future plantation plans, including afforestation over 552 hectares during 2026–27 and 29.50 hectares during 2027–28, along with assisted natural regeneration over 1,778 hectares of degraded forest land.
Recording the “sincere afforestation efforts” undertaken so far over 688.5 hectares, the court noted that a balance extent of 581.5 hectares remains to be covered in the upcoming planting seasons. It was further noted that the maintenance period for the afforestation work is ten years, during which 100 per cent survival is expected to be ensured.
On the other hand, counsel for the implead petitioner submitted that the Forest Department is required to achieve a total compensatory afforestation target of 2,348 hectares in terms of the Stage-II approval. Taking note of the ongoing afforestation activity and the fact that plantation works are seasonal, the Bench adjourned the matter for a period of six months to review further progress.
The Indian Navy has chosen Damagudem as a key base for establishing the VLF station because of its strategic location. It is located at about 250 feet above the sea level for capturing the signals from ships.
The Navy uses a VLF communication transmission system with ships and submarines from this location. This is the second such station in the country, the first one being INS Kattabomman Radar Station at Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu which has been serving the Navy since 1990.
Since 2010, the Indian Navy has been in touch with the state government. In 2014, the union forest and environment department approved the Navy’s proposal. The Navy has paid Rs 18.56 crore for the works undertaken for land conservation measures.
However, the state government had not allocated land for a long time due to resistance from local environmentalists, who formed an association called “Damagudem Forest Protection Committee.”
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