Hyderabad: Fresh concerns have surfaced over the ongoing widening of the Hyderabad-Manneguda stretch of NH-163, with environmentalists and local residents alleging that several banyan trees transplanted as part of the project are either dying or have already perished.The controversy comes months after National Green Tribunal (NGT) cleared revised alignment for the highway that allowed National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to retain 765 of the 915 heritage banyan trees along the stretch. Around 150 banyans and 415 other trees, which could not be retained in situ, were to be scientifically translocated under expert supervision. This followed a petition filed in NGT.On July 15, NHAI posted on ‘X’ that the banyan and non-banyan trees were being saved through transplantation. “However, several transplanted banyans showed severe stress, with some appearing dead while others had dried foliage after initially sprouting fresh leaves. Many of these trees have not been watered for nearly two weeks,” a resident of Moinabad, requesting anonymity, alleged.Environmentalist Uday Krishna questioned the transplantation process, claiming many large banyans had been pruned into “small stumps” before being moved. “This cannot be termed scientific transplantation. Instead of relocating mature trees with their canopies intact using appropriate machinery, the trees have been drastically cut down. A banyan’s survival depends on preserving its structure as much as possible,” he added.Meanwhile, environmentalists have also objected to the felling of hundreds of mature peltophorum, copper pod trees along the corridor. “Over 100 mature copper pod trees have also been cut down near Aziz Nagar,” he said.An earlier study by two masters students of Forestry (Natural resources management), L Siddhartha and Boda Vijendar had flagged serious discrepancies on the ground, adding that while the decision was made to translocate 765 trees, however, on ground, the “trees are in very bad shape”. The survey studied each tree specifically to determine their current situation. The researchers found that only 867 trees currently exist at the site, with most trees damaged to some extent. Of these, at least 184 banyans have been burnt at the base. Over 300 others show varying degrees of damage, including burnt branches, partially burnt trunks, and heavy pruning or trimming.“Our petitions mostly dealt with saving banayans. However, as per our information, Tree Protection Committee had identified non-banyan trees as well. But we don’t know they are being preserved as the petition highlighted majorly banayans,” Tejah B, one of the petitioners in the ‘Save Chevella Banayans’ case, said.Uday Krishna said over 500 citizens had volunteered online to adopt and relocate nearly 300-400 such trees near Chilkur Balaji Junction. “I tagged NHAI and the concerned authorities seeking permission to coordinate their relocation, but there has been no response. If citizens are willing to save these trees, they should at least be given an opportunity,” he added.
