HYDERABAD: The state has sought clearance from Centre to expand the road from Kagaznagar to Penchikalpet in Asifabad in Kawal tiger reserve. The objective is to provide quick transportation for Bejjur and Penchikalpet mandal to Asifabad district headquarters via Kaghaznagar municipality.
The area sought by roads and buildings (R&B) department for expansion falls in a zone having high man-animal conflict and where recent human kills by a tiger was reported.
In its proposal to to the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF), the state asked for diversion of 2.2 hectares in Kagaznagar division for widening the road in the tiger corridor in Kumuram Bheem Asifabad district.
Two tiger kills have been reported in the recent past in Penchikalpet and Digida areas where a suspected man-eater tiger was on prowl.
Activists, however, have objected to the proposal.
Enviromentalist Devidas Manghnani said, “Why are they expanding roads in forest areas of tiger corridor? The tiger corridor is already under threat and this proposal will further add to the stress.”
The objective for a bigger road is to provide quick transportation for Bejjur and Penchikalpet mandal to Asifabad district headquarters via Kaghaznagar muncipalitiy.
