Uncertainty over Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali National Park’s extent

The readjustment of Mrugavani National Park raises concerns about boundaries and protection of Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali National Park.

The readjustment of the extent of the Mrugavani National Park by 80 hectares has created serious doubts about the area of another deer habitat and national park on the other end of Hyderabad.

The boundaries of Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali National Park, located on National Highway-65, too might not be accurate, as a GPS survey has not been carried out on the same.

Moreover, the Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) fixed around the park partly falls onto the premises of two central government institutions, which, till a year ago, had not been aware of the same.

Without a GPS survey and demarcation of boundaries and ESZ, protection of the park is only left to a boundary wall constructed at the time of notification of the park.

As per the Gazette notification issued in 1994, Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali National Park encompasses 1,459 hectares/3,605 acres of forest land in Hayatnagar, Mansoorabad, Tatti Annaram, Kuntlur, Kuthbullapur, Harepally and Bandlaguda villages of Rangareddy district.

While the notification specifies the boundaries, they were fixed using a technique involving compass survey, which may not be accurate as proven in the case of the Mrugavani National Park, the extent of which has turned out to be only 280 hectares as against the 360 hectares mentioned in the gazette notification.

In 2017, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change notified the ESZ for the park, to the extent of one kilometre from the boundary on all sides, encompassing 40.56 square kilometres in 17 villages.