Residents upset over ruthless tree cutting in Bachupally Colony

Bachupally: Residents of KRCR Colony, Bachupally, are expressing frustration and concern after 15 to 20 trees were cut down near power lines, allegedly without prior warning or proper pruning. The workers also allegedly cut through internet wires, adding to the anger of the local community.

Raj Reddy, a resident of the area, spoke to Hyderabad Mail about the incident. “Yesterday, nearly 15 to 20 trees were cut by the TSNPDCL staff. They were only supposed to prune the trees, but they cut them down entirely. This has led to the loss of so much greenery in our colony. They should have returned for pruning, not cut the trees down in one go,” he said.

Raj Reddy also raised concerns about the impact on internet services. "Not only were the trees destroyed, but the workers also cut the Wi-Fi cables. When we asked them why they did this, they gave us negligent answers," he added.

The incident has left residents questioning the necessity and justification for such drastic measures. Many are seeking an explanation from the authorities on why the trees were cut down in such a manner.

The Telangana Forest Department outlines a clear procedure for tree felling, which includes an application process and payment of fees. According to the guidelines:

1. Application: The applicant must complete the tree felling form on the official website http://fmis.telangana.gov.in/EDB/Exempted_Form13A.aspx.
2. Payment: After submitting the application, the applicant must make an online payment of the required fees.
3. Tree Felling: Once the payment is processed, the applicant is authorised to proceed with tree felling.