SOURCE: AFI
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Cutting across various sections of society, people in Telangana have urged the government to save the Damagundam forests in Vikarabad district by relocating the proposed Indian Navy radar station to a different site. The concerns stem from environmental and conservationist efforts to protect the forested area, which is now slated for a crucial military installation.
The Indian Navy has identified Telangana as a key base for its second Very Low Frequency (VLF) communication transmission station. This station, crucial for communication with naval ships and submarines, will be established in the Damagundam forest area near Puduru in Vikarabad Mandal. The new installation will complement the first VLF station, INS Kattabomman in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, which has been operational since 1990 and serves as a vital communication link for the Navy.
Local residents, environmentalists, and various civil society groups have expressed deep concern over the decision to set up the VLF station within the forest. The Damagundam forests, which span across Vikarabad, are known for their rich biodiversity and have long been regarded as an ecological treasure. These forests support a variety of wildlife, including numerous endangered species, and provide a natural habitat that contributes to the region’s environmental health.
Activists argue that the construction and operation of a military radar station in this ecologically sensitive area will lead to deforestation, habitat destruction, and disruption of local wildlife. They are calling on the government and the Indian Navy to consider alternative locations for the installation, preferably areas with less environmental impact.
“We are not against national security and understand the importance of defense infrastructure, but we strongly believe that the government can find a more suitable location for the radar station that does not come at the cost of our forests,” a local conservationist stated.
VLF communication stations are critical for the Indian Navy’s operations, particularly for maintaining secure communications with submarines that operate below the surface, where traditional communication methods are ineffective. The station in Vikarabad will be part of a broader naval strategy to enhance communication infrastructure and improve operational readiness across India’s maritime boundaries.
The Eastern Naval Command, headquartered in Visakhapatnam, identified Telangana as a suitable location for its second radar station due to its strategic position and favorable geographic conditions. The decision to establish the VLF station in Vikarabad is part of the Navy’s ongoing efforts to expand and modernize its capabilities to safeguard India’s maritime interests.