Andhra Pradesh reports loss of 281 sq km forest cover; Maoists said to be prime cause

NEW DELHI: The State of Forests Report, 2011, has reported a loss of 281 sq km of forest cover in Andhra Pradesh, of which 182 sqkm was recorded in Khammam and surrounding districts. The Centre has, based on the reports from Andhra Pradesh, said that a substantial amount of the loss in forest cover has been on account of Left wing extremism, particularly in the Khammam, Adilabad, Warangal and South Koraput.

There has been a decline in forest cover of about 679 sq km in tribal districts. Environment secretary T Chatterjee, who released the report, said that over six to eight months, between 2008 and 2009, Maoists were responsible for cutting trees in hundreds of acres in Khamman, Warangal and Adilabad districts of Andhra Pradesh and adjoining districts in Orissa.

"In Warangal and Khammam, they cut trees because they wanted to involve the people... The wood, which was mostly teak, was sold. These cuttings were done over a period of time, anywhere between six to eight months, in small patches corresponding with villages," Chatterjee said.

Officials explained that given most trees in the area was teak, it provided a revenue stream for Naxals, who had by 2008/09 been driven out of Andhra Pradesh. "These are not areas where Naxals lived or operated from. These forests were home to villages from where they recruited and the sale of timber gave them a source of earning," the secretary explained.

Other factors, which account for the decline of forest cover in Andhra Pradesh harvesting of mature plantation of eucalyptus and other species.