Hyderabad Tree Watch alleges tree felling without WALTA permissions at Mugdha Junction
HYDERABAD: Hyderabad Tree Watch has sought an immediate halt to tree felling at Mugdha Junction in Jubilee Hills, alleging that workers of Megha Engineering and Infrastructures Ltd (MEIL) were removing trees without permissions required under the Water, Land and Trees Act (WALTA), 2002, and its rules.
The allegations were made in a representation addressed to the Hyderabad district collector in the collector’s capacity as district WALTA chairperson. The claims regarding absence of permissions could not be independently verified from the material provided.
Activists seek copies of tree-felling permissions
Hyderabad Tree Watch representatives Lubna Sarwath and Varun Rajesh Phadke said citizens had asked workers at the site to produce permission letters after raising concerns over the removal of trees.
According to the representation, workers at the site declined to show the documents and said the work was being carried out on instructions from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).
The group also alleged that it could not find the relevant permissions on the websites of the Hyderabad collectorate or GHMC. It termed the alleged lack of publicly accessible permissions a violation of transparency requirements and questioned whether tree felling could proceed without valid approvals.
Published reports confirm that Mugdha Junction is among the locations where steel flyover and underpass works are under way as part of infrastructure works around KBR Park. Reports in May also said trees had been felled at Mugdha Junction and other junctions around KBR Park for the projects.
Group asks collector to stop work, grant meeting
The group asked the collector to provide copies of tree-felling permissions, if any, and immediately stop further removal of trees until the issue was clarified.
It also sought a meeting with the collector for clarification on the procedure followed for the tree removal. The representation warned that the group would consider legal action if the permissions were not furnished.
Hyderabad Tree Watch said the communication should be treated as a legal notice in continuation of its letter dated April 21, 2026, and a meeting with the Hyderabad collector on May 7, 2026.
The representation invokes the WALTA Act, 2002, and WALTA Rules, 2004. The newsroom principles applied here emphasise clear attribution, short sentences, neutral language and avoidance of presenting allegations as established facts.
