Telangana’s vanishing forests: 12 lakh acres lost to podu titles, infra projects

Over the last five decades, Telangana has lost around 12 lakh acres of forest land—roughly 10% of its total forest cover—due to the distribution of podu land titles, public utility projects, and infrastructure development. This alarming decline has raised environmental concerns and questions over forest policy violations.

Podu titles for votes?

In a controversial move before the 2023 Assembly elections, then Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) issued land titles for 4 lakh acres of forest land under podu cultivation. This was not the first instance. Forest land has been distributed multiple times, especially around election periods. Over time, such allocations have led to the disappearance of 8 lakh acres of forest land.

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Despite warnings from the Forest Department and satellite data suggesting land titles be restricted to legitimate cultivators, local gram sabhas approved titles even for ineligible individuals. Forest officers’ recommendations were ignored, further compromising environmental protection.

4 L acres for projects

In addition to podu-related allocations, 4.28 lakh acres of forest land was diverted for development projects during the BRS rule from 2014 to 2024. Irrigation schemes like the Kaleshwaram Project and, the construction of roads, canals, pipelines, and telecom infrastructure all contributed to deforestation.

The Kaleshwaram Project alone accounted for 7,829 acres of lost forest across districts like Karimnagar, Siddipet, and Nirmal.

According to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, 114.22 sq. km of forest land in Telangana has been diverted for development projects in the last decade, placing the state third in India for forest area loss.

Forest land distribution

The practice of allocating forest land for podu cultivation is not new. It dates back to the Nizam era when 50,000 acres were regularised in 1940. In 1970, another 2.41 lakh acres were allocated before the Forest Conservation Act came into force in 1980.

Under the Forest Rights Act of 2006, a one-time regularisation was carried out based on the cut-off date of December 13, 2005, resulting in 3.31 lakh acres of titles to nearly 1 lakh beneficiaries.

The intention was to ensure justice for traditional forest dwellers, but the act has been misused in subsequent years, critics argue.

Forest cover shrinks

Today, 10.71% of Telangana’s forest land has been granted as podu titles. Satellite imagery and reports from the Forest Survey of India show a steady decline in green cover. Districts such as Adilabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Nirmal, and Mulugu have seen the sharpest reductions.

What’s worse, areas cleared for projects are not being reforested, worsening environmental degradation.

The Indian Forest Act, first enacted in 1865 and updated in 1878 and 1929, was aimed at protecting India's green wealth. In 1988, Joint Forest Management was introduced, and in 2023, the National Forest Commission was set up to intensify conservation efforts. Yet, Telangana’s forest loss continues unchecked.

The Forum for Good Governance has raised concerns over irregularities in forest land allocation. In letters to the Union Environment Ministry, Environmental Committee, and Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, the forum condemned the three rounds of podu title distribution as “a mockery of regulations.” Forum president M Padmanabha Reddy stated that this trend has encouraged deforestation and must be curbed with stricter policies.

Irreversible damage

Environmental expert Prof Purushotham Reddy highlighted the link between deforestation and climate change. He stressed the importance of protecting naturally formed forests and warned against destroying trees in the name of development, corruption, or podu cultivation.

Also read: Telangana HC halts land clearing near Hyderabad University amid protests

Activist Dr Lubna Sarwath echoed similar concerns. Citing a recent Supreme Court ruling against indiscriminate tree-felling, she called for the protection of trees not just in forests but also on private and public lands. She urged the government to stop issuing podu titles and safeguard green spaces like those in Gachibowli.

Despite being a state with rich biodiversity, Telangana’s forest conservation efforts appear compromised by political, developmental, and administrative decisions. Experts and activists alike call for urgent action to restore balance and ensure long-term ecological sustainability.

(This article was originally published in The Federal Telangana.)