Banyan trees axed on NH-563 stretch near Kondagattu
HYDERABAD: Even before the ink dried on a recent order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) granting reprieve to banyan trees on National Highway 163 between Moinabad and Manneguda, authorities or contractors axed several banyans along another highway stretch in Telangana.
Eyewitnesses reported that workers cut multiple banyan trees, some over 100 years old, on National Highway 563 between Jagtial and Karimnagar over the past few days. Travellers shared photographs showing at least five trees hacked at different levels, according to The Hindu.
While workers felled some trunks completely, they sliced others midway. In addition, they indiscriminately pruned a few trees, stripping away large branches and much of the green canopy. Many of the damaged trees had massive trunks and extensive prop roots, underscoring their age and ecological value.
Charla Pavan, a frequent traveller on the stretch, said at least 50 banyan trees aged over a century line both sides of the road. “Most of the axed trees stand closer to Kondagattu,” he said, referring to the temple town near Jagtial.
However, officials have yet to identify who carried out the felling.
₹2,484-crore four-laning project cleared
Meanwhile, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has cleared a ₹2,484-crore project to four-lane the Jagtial–Karimnagar stretch. The project forms part of four national highway works approved for Telangana at a total cost of ₹10,034 crore.
Importantly, the Water, Land and Trees Act (WALTA), 2002, protects banyan trees. The law requires individuals or agencies to obtain permission from the forest department before felling them, even outside forest areas.
Jagtial district forest officer M. Ravi Prasad said he had no information about the tree cutting.
Reacting strongly, Uday Krishna Peddireddi of Vata Foundation questioned the repeated loss of heritage trees. “Why must citizens fight for tree protection every time authorities expand a highway? Haven’t they learnt from the Chevella banyans episode? Axing such ecologically significant species shows a lack of foresight,” he said.
Earlier, in 2017, plans to fell more than 900 banyan trees on the Moinabad–Manneguda stretch for the expansion of NH-163 sparked a citizens’ movement and a prolonged legal battle before the NGT. Eventually, NHAI and the petitioners reached a compromise, under which the authority agreed to retain most of the trees and translocate the rest to the road margins.
