Kukatpally township axes 20 trees again

Hyderabad: Despite a fine of 20,000 by the forest department for axing 40 trees without permission just six months ago, Rain Tree Park Township in Kukatpally has reportedly cut down another 20 trees without the necessary permits, according to residents and authorities. The axed trees include subabul, black ficus, ornamental palm tree, alstonia among others.
“On May 25, I witnessed someone climbing a tree and chopping the bark from the middle.It became clear that the association was once again engaging in unscientific pruning and cutting. When I asked the person who had instructed him to chop the tree, he said that the association had ordered it. I even have video evidence of the tree cutting,” Varun Johar, a resident of the gated community, said.
Johar also added that the worker reportedly told him that a few more trees had been cut in the last one week.
In fact, the forest department has confirmed that no permission was obtained this time either.
“Just like last time, we did not get any request. No reason was also cited as to why these trees are being chopped off. We received the complaint and we immediately rushed to the location, and stopped the act,” Medchal-Malkajgiri forest revenue officer N Laxman said.
The department also added that two penalties, 10,000 each, were slapped last time. “This time, first we have to ascertain how many trees were being felled or trimmed, and we will decide the penalty accordingly,” Laxman added.
The department also added that repeated disregard for the regulations might result in criminal charges.
Six months ago, the association had pruned and chopped nearly 40 alstonia trees, citing health hazards as the reason, claiming the smell induced respiratory and lung ailments in the elderly. This time, however, they explained that heavy rains last week had caused trees to fall on cars and other properties, necessitating their removal.
“A few cars were damaged when the trees fell on them. Those cars could have been humans too. So for public safety, we only removed the ones which were over 80 foot and above. And, many of them had fallen due to the wind, so we had to remove them completely,” Association president Suresh Kakarla told TOI.