Chenchus stand guard to save the forests of Nallamala
Nimmala Bayanna, long-headed and thickset, wields a bow and arrow not to hunt for food but to attack treasure hunters or trespassers in the lush green Nallamala forest which he inhabits.
While mining and land clearing continue to eat away the country’s largest remaining tiger reserves, the Chenchus, who live in 137 hamlets that dot the forest, are pushing back. Bayanna, who is in his 30s, is a member of Nallamala’s Chenchu tribe and has been spearheading the fight against the recent proposal of mining uranium that is likely to destroy a landscape rich in biodiversity, besides supporting the livelihood of the hunter-gatherer Chenchu community.
On a monsoon day, Bayanna and other Chenchus prepare to patrol the catchment area of the Krishna river, which flows through the forests marking up the boundary of Medimakala Penta (hamlet) in the interiors of tiger reserve. The land is inhabited not just by the Chenchus but also a variety of fauna. It is now under threat of uranium mining.
The Nallamala forest has been a permanent hunting ground for those who want to become rich quickly by digging into the suspected treasure.
While the Chenchu men patrol the forests, the women guard their hamlets by making sure their forest and all the living beings that survive on it are safe.
“If we go looking in our territory, we always find illegal things going on these days,” says Bayanna before he left with his men to patrol the forest.
“We patrol, we find intruders, we destroy their vehicles and we send them away. We’ve stopped many illegal miners and loggers by adopting this method. It’s working,” he said.
After the in-principle clearance granted for uranium exploration in the tiger reserve, the Chenchus fear re-location and have become more protective of their forest, says Y Balayya, general secretary, struggle committee against uranium mining.
Vigilant Chenchus caught a few trespassers suspiciously wandering near one of their hamlets.
“The Chenchus are well-known for their affinity with animals and understanding of the forest. Lack of enforcement by the state government has forced the Chenchus to take matters into their own hands,” said Balayya.
Tribal territories seem to be acting as the best line of control for the forests of Nallamala, and these Chenchus are ready to go to any lengths to defend their greenery amid a sea of destruction.
“We know it’s risky and we have enemies. But now’s no time for hiding. We are ready to die protecting this forest but will never let anyone take control of our lives,” said Lachamma, a Chenchu woman while guarding Medimakala hamlet located about 5km from the Krishna river.
The Nallamala forest has been a permanent hunting ground for those who want to become rich quickly by digging into the suspected treasure.
However, the number of treasure hunters trying to enter the core areas of the forests seems to have increased manifold after the recent in-principle clearance given by the central government for exploration of uranium.
The Chenchus are well-known for their affinity with animals and understanding of the forest.
Tribal territories seem to be acting as the best line of control for the forests of Nallamala, and these Chenchus are ready to go to any lengths to defend their greenery amid a sea of destruction.
Vigilant Chenchus caught a few trespassers suspiciously wandering near one of their hamlets. “We have no idea from where they have entered the forest. They looked very suspicious. We deflated the tyres of their vehicles and warned them of serious consequences if they come back again,” said Nimmala Anjaiah of Medimakala Penta.
“When we asked them, they first told us that they came to do some research in the forests, but we did not believe them. If they really came for research, they would have come from the main entrance instead of taking other routes,” said Anjaiah.
“There has been an increase in the number of people trying to enter the forest for gold and diamond. The Chenchus have increased their vigil and make sure no illegal activity takes place inside the forest,” said Balayya. (TNN | Sep 8, 2019)
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March 24, 2021 NAGARKURNOOL
Is the stage set to displace children of the forest Chenchus from Nallamala forest to the plains? Is this conspiracy going on without the notice quietly? Is a new 'package' promised with the hope of collecting consent from people? The answer is 'yes'.
The forest department officials have recently been able to collect consent documents to move the Chenchus from the Amrabad Tiger Reserve Sanctuary in Nagarkurnool district. The public bodies have been strongly opposed to the efforts of the central and state governments for two decades to move the Chenchus living in the Nallamala forest area. However, the issue has come up again with a fresh collection of consent documents.
Nallamala forest area is spread over 2.75 lakh hectares in Nagarkurnool, Nalgonda, Guntur, Prakasam and Kurnool districts in both Telugu states. About ten thousand families live in 1077 chenchu pentas making forest products a livelihood. In 1999, when the Naxal movement was intense, some Chenchu families in Nallamala were moved to the plains. A special rehabilitation centre was established at Amargiri.
However, displacement of Chenchus became very controversial when two deaths were reported as the Chenchus were not able to adjust with the new environment. Later, in the name of the uranium excavations in Nallamala and on the pretext of sanctuary rules, Chenchus were asked to move to the plains. Each family was promised a cash package of Rs.10 lakhs and a house in Tukkuguda, Ranga Reddy district, but the children of the forest did not agree. That is why a new package proposal was brought to the fore with the cash of Rs.15 lakhs and a house or three acres of agricultural land for each Chenchu family. 175 Chenchu families are living in Vatavarlapalli, Charlapalli, Pulichintalabayalu, Kummanpenta, Kollampenta, Mallapur, Appapur, Bairapur, Rampur, Thangidigundala, Medimalakala and Eeralpenta in Nallamala and 80 per cent of the families are forced to sign on the consent papers. Meanwhile, SC and BC families in Vatavarlapalli, Sarlapalli and Pulichintala Bayalu are forced to leave their homes and cattle without any package.
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