Another instance in the series of mindless de-forestation in Hyderabad came to light at Kondapur, where several fully grown trees were chopped down recently based on a lapsed permission by the Tree Protection Committee under the Forest department.

Over a dozen trees were felled from the road margins on the stretch between the Chandra Rajeshwar Rao Foundation and RTA Office, Kondapur, eye witnesses informed. All of them were either rain trees or copper pod, with rich canopies. More trees were chopped to the bare trunk, in an apparent preparation of 'translocation'.

As per the details available, an application was filed to the TPC online by the Deputy Commissioner, Chandanagar in March this year, seeking permission for felling of 32 trees on the stretch for widening of the road. After field inspection on June 16, the committee had given permission for felling of 18 trees and translocation of 14. In addition, the committee recommended that efforts be made to translocate other species such as Peltophorum, Bignonia and palms in consultation with NGOs and depending upon the success ratio, the same exercise be extended to other trees too.

Avenue trees, the largest casualty of rains in Hyderabad

The permission letter specifically mandated that the felling or translocation as the case may be, should be completed by August 27, 2025. However, the GHMC has ignored this clause and went about with its axe a fortnight after the mandated deadline, in utter disregard of the TPC's order.

"It was a massacre. They felled huge trees with bird nests ruthlessly, with no thought that they are living beings too. They keep repeating the same across the city, but are condoned every time. And the wood is sold to fill their coffers," fumed Uday Krishna Peddireddi from Vata Foundation.

He also questioned the modus operandi for translocation whereby all branches were chopped off, with the bare trunk three to four feet high remaining over the ground.

Deputy Commissioner, Chandanagar, Shashirekha, when contacted for her version, denied knowledge about the tree felling. Forest officials did not respond to the queries about the operation being carried out beyond the timeline given by the TPC.

Tree Survey-2024 counted 120 species of trees in Hyderabad city

GHMC fells trees in Kondapur in violation of orders by tree protection committee