Citizen Journalism: Tree felling on Patancheru-Sangareddy-Mumbai Highway; activists send SOS to govt

NewsMeter has always been at the forefront of highlighting people's problems, celebrating the common person's success, and encouraging people to live their dreams. We are trying to become a bridge between the government and the people. To take this initiative forward, we are introducing a citizen journalism concept This story is part of the initiative.

Hyderabad: Immediate attention is required to address a serious concern regarding the ongoing highway expansion from Patancheru to Sangareddy near Koulempet.

It has come to our notice that there has been a significant and unauthorized cutting of trees in this area, which is causing a substantial environmental impact.

The trees being cut are government-planted and were intended to serve as a green cover, significantly contributing to environmental sustainability. We are deeply concerned that these trees are being felled without proper authorization and may be used for commercial purposes without following the necessary procedures and obtaining the required permissions. This unauthorized activity undermines the efforts to maintain ecological balance and disrupts the natural habitat.

In light of these events, representations have been made to the Collector of Sangareddy, the Additional Collector of Sangareddy, and the Joint Collector of Rangareddy. Unfortunately, despite these formal complaints, no action has been taken to address the unauthorized cutting of trees. This lack of response from the authorities is alarming and calls for immediate accountability.

Given the urgency of the situation and the potential long-term environmental impact, we request that this matter be urgently investigated. It is imperative to explore alternatives such as relocating or replanting the trees instead of cutting them down. Implementing such measures can help mitigate the environmental damage and preserve the green cover that is vital for maintaining ecological balance.

For your reference, we have attached videos documenting the ongoing deforestation. These videos clearly show the scale and severity of the unauthorized tree cutting, providing undeniable evidence that requires immediate action.

We urge the authorities to take swift and decisive measures to prevent further unauthorized cutting of trees and ensure accountability for the trees that have already been cut down. It is crucial to implement stricter regulations and enforcement mechanisms to protect our environment from such illegal activities.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. We hope that with your intervention, we can put a stop to this unauthorized tree cutting and safeguard our environmental resources for future generation.

Credits- Helping Human Hyderabad.