The foundation stone for the most controversial Navy Radar Station will be laid at Damagundam in the forest area of Vikarabad, Telangana today (15 Oct - Tuesday). After 14 years of hard work, the Indian Navy is set to see results as the foundation stone for a radar station. Union Minister Rajnath Singh will be laying the foundation stone for the Radar Station at Puduru mandal, Vikarabad district. Navvy dignitaries will be present along with CM Revanth for the ceremony.
Over the last 14 years, the Navy has been dedicated to setting up this radar station. From 2010 through 2023, it conducted discussions with the state governments at that time. Following the Congress government's rise to power in the state, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy concentrated on the project. Forest officials transferred 2,900 acres of reserve forest to the Navy on January 24 this year. Now that the necessary land has been obtained, the laying of the foundation stone is set to take place on the 15th of this month.
The Damagundam forest area, located 70 km away from Hyderabad, spans 3,260 acres of thick and very dense forest. Access to the forest is available through Puduru village, and it is home to the ancient Ramalingeswara Swamy temple. Many devotees from the city visit the area, which is also a popular site for movie shootings.
The forest is surrounded by approximately 20 small villages and hamlets (Lambada tribal thandas), and local residents rely on it for cattle fodder and other necessities. The forest contains small water sources and streams, and its biodiversity is remarkable, featuring various bird species, deer, and other wildlife. While there are no large animals, the area is rich in medicinal plants, drawing the attention of scientists for ongoing exploration.
The Navy has received 2,900 acres of land in this forest area, which includes 1,93,000 trees. An additional 300 to 400 acres consist of grasslands. Officials have indicated that not all the trees on the land will be removed. If necessary, forest department officials plan to uproot trees along with their roots and replant them in grasslands. The Visakhapatnam-based Eastern Naval Command will construct the VLF (Very Low Frequency) radar station. This radar system will facilitate communication with the crews of ships and submarines at sea.
The VLF radar system operates by transmitting waves in the 3 kHz to 30 kHz range, which can penetrate up to 40 meters below the surface of the water and transmit signals over vast distances, including thousands of kilometers. This technology is used primarily for defense but also serves other radio communication needs. The radar station at Damagundam will be the second of its kind in the country, with the first located in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu.
Concerns have been raised regarding the installation of a Navy radar system in the landlocked state of Telangana. Navy officials said that Damagundam's strategic position, located halfway between the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, is perfect for communicating with naval crews. Moreover, the forested region, located at an elevation of 360 feet above sea level and 60 km away from Hyderabad, provides the necessary geographic benefit.
Numerous environmental groups have voiced their disapproval of building the radar station in the Damagundam Reserve Forest, raising worries about its effects on vegetation and wildlife. Critics are concerned that the Moosi and Esi rivers could be at risk, with warnings that Hyderabad may be in danger of flooding. Many legal cases have been initiated and correspondence has been forwarded to the government expressing these anxieties.
Anticipated to be finished by 2027, the Damagundam Forest Preservation Joint Action Committee, along with environmental organizations, has been opposing the station for more than ten years. They are encouraging the government to rethink its decision. Navy officials are planning to have the radar station up and running by 2027, with an estimated cost of around Rs 2,500 crore.