Earthmovers deployed for Vana Mahotsavam? PJTSAU students allege tree cutting on campus

Hyderabad: Tensions erupted at Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU), Rajendranagar, on Saturday night after students alleged that earthmovers were deployed to cut down trees on campus in preparation for the upcoming Vana Mahotsavam programme to be launched by chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Monday.

Students raise concerns

Videos circulated by students showed them confronting police officials about the use of heavy machinery on the premises. “Why are existing trees being removed just to plant new ones?” asked a protesting student, fearing that the campus greenery was being sacrificed for the event’s arrangements.

Police deny large-scale felling

Rajendranagar Police, however, dismissed the allegations of major tree felling, clarifying that only bushes and wild vegetation were cleared as part of routine preparations. “No major trees were cut. This is a minor issue being misinterpreted,” said a police official, urging students not to panic.

University clarifies plantation plans

In an official statement, PJTSAU vice chancellor Prof Aldas Janaiah explained that the university is launching a massive plantation programme to revive traditional native species of Telangana.

The campus is presently overrun with invasive weeds such as Lantana, Parthenium and Prosopis Juliflora (Sarkar Thumma), along with exotic species like Eucalyptus and Subabul, which have spread extensively, leaving no space for valuable native tree varieties.

Removal of exotic species underway

“To create space for native plantations, around 150 acres of old Eucalyptus and Subabul trees are being removed,” Prof Janaiah said. The removal process began a month ago through tenders awarded to ITC Company and is part of a long-term ecological restoration plan.

Revival of the botanical garden

The plantation drive, starting from the campus Botanical Garden, neglected for the past 15 years, will include around 30 native timber, wild fruit and wild flower-bearing tree species, along with various bamboo varieties to rejuvenate the green space.

Concerns over land allocation persist

This development comes amid concerns over the government’s decision to allocate a portion of university land for the construction of new High Court buildings, leaving students worried about losing academic and green spaces. It remains unclear whether the area cleared on Saturday forms part of the allotted land for the courts.