Trees trimmed to the stub in gated community decried

The Hindu

05-05-2025

Absence of a standard protocol for trimming/pruning of tree branches is not only playing havoc with the greenery in public places, but also ruining the verdant spaces in gated communities.
Denuding the trees of foliage and axing of branches in the name of pruning, is routinely carried out by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation in the road medians and road margins, while the power distribution authorities resort to lopsided trimming causing canopy imbalance and subsequent falls, endangering lives and property.
What goes on inside the gated communities is rarely public news. A recent instance wherein a gated community resorted to indiscriminate chopping of branches is making rounds of the social media, and drawing consternation from the viewers.
Canopies of a large number of Kadamba trees (Neolamarckia cadamba) trees planted in the road margins of the gated community, Aparna Cyber County in Nallagandla were totally removed, leaving the trees with bare trunks and half branches. Posts by the Vata Foundation and Save City Forests group about the incident have gained traction on the social media. It is estimated that a total 37 trees were subjected to the 'trimming'.
When enquired, it is learnt that a resolution was passed in the General Body Meeting of the community, with almost everyone concurring that the trees needed pruning. Secretary of the owners' association Srinivas Kanchibhotla, when contacted, said that the decision was spurred by a recent incident wherein a tree branch cracked under the impact of recent thunderstorm.
'We are all environmentalists here in the community, and we'd also want great canopies and tree covers, but the unmanageable heights to which the trees have been allowed to grow in the past 15 years for a variety of reasons, posed a serious threat to life, limb and property,' Mr.Kanchibhotla said.
The intention is to allow the trees to grow at a more manageable and safe heights with regular trimming and pruning operations going forward, he added. No horticultural expert was approached nor the Forest department's permission has been taken for the operation.
Uday Krishna Peddireddi from the Vata Foundation questioned the manner in which the operation was undertaken in peak summer.
'One branch falling cannot be an excuse. Has anybody thought what the trees must have gone through with all foliage removed in the harsh summer? It's high time the Forest department came up with a standard protocol for tree trimming and pruning, and enforced it strictly,' Mr.Peddireddi said.
Rangareddy District Forest Officer Sudhakar Reddy, when contacted, said, a couple of months ago, the community had been forewarned against its intention to fell the Kadamba trees as decided in the general body meeting. However, he is not aware of the latest incident.