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Time of India

'Cutting down existing trees to plant new ones': Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) students object to tree felling, varsity clarifies

H YDERABAD: The deployment of earthmovers at the Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) late on Saturday created a mild tension on the campus. Students alleged that the varsity was cutting down trees for the Vanamahotsavam programme, which is set to be inaugurated by chief minister A Revanth Reddy. They claimed that hundreds of trees, including some decades-old, were cleared overnight using 15 to 20 earthmovers on the campus for the programme. However, the university issued a clarification and stated that the state govt decided to start the Vanamahotsavam programme from PJTSAU as HMDA is already planting plants there. "In the wee hours of Saturday, we learned that trees were being cleared on about 15 acres of land on the campus. We don't understand how the university or the state govt can can justify cutting down existing trees to plant new ones," said Rajkumar Chowhan, a student. You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad Another student, Bhanu Chander, said they didn't understand why decades-old trees, including eucalyptus and sababul, were being cleared from the campus. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top Doctor: If You Eat Banana Every Day, This Is What Happens WellnessGuide Learn more Undo "We were preparing about three acres in the botanical garden for the programme. We received instruction only at around 4.30 pm on Saturday about the inaugural being held on our campus. Due to short notice, we couldn't inform or provide clarity to the students, leading to misinformation. We will plant 3,000 saplings of planting native timber, wild fruits, and wildflowers in the cleared area," said Aldas Janaiah, vice-chancellor of the varsity. Both officials from the forest department and the Tree Protection Committee maintained that permission is not needed as per WALTA to cut agroforestry trees. "They don't need permission but have to plant new saplings in the same area in a 1:2 ratio," said Farida Tampal. Meanwhile, Sudhakar Reddy Danda, Rangareddy district forest officer, said the varsity only cleared land for the event by removing weeds or unwanted plants.