Hyderabad: The Telangana State Board for Wildlife approved heavy vehicle movement through the Kawal Tiger Reserve, ending a decade-long ban. The board decided at a meeting in Hyderabad and allowed movement between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., with an environmental toll.
Vehicles carrying 10 tonnes or more will pay ₹150 per trip. Cars will pay ₹50 for using the stretch. The state had imposed the ban in 2012 when the reserve was created for tiger conservation.
Four districts linked as ban ends
Local residents had pressed for the ban to be lifted, citing travel hardship. Forest officials carried out impact surveys before recommending the change.
The reserve’s core zone covers 893 sq km, with a 1,120 sq km buffer zone spread across Adilabad, Kumram Bheem Asifabad, Nirmal, and Mancherial districts. Kawal Tiger Reserve, home to 675 plant species, is India’s 41st tiger reserve and the 12th largest.