University of Hyderabad beauty, forest face axe

HYDERABAD: Wildlife activists and students are worried about nature conservation and are opposing cutting down of trees in the area that’s home to spotted deer in University of Hyderabad campus, where development works are under way. On the other hand, the university administration is buying ornamental palm trees for plantation on the campus.

Students allege that the beauty of UoH is being robbed by way of deforestation of natural and indigenous trees on a regular basis without approval from forest officials. In the name of development, many trees are getting uprooted in the zone, which is a habitat for many spotted deer and wildlife animals. The deer were seen running around the uprooted trees for shelter in the scorching summer, while forest officials confirm that no permission had been taken from them for cutting down the trees.

After the deforestation was done for Haritha Haram, trees are being cut down on the campus for development of roads. Many trees have been cut in the lane opposite to the administration blocks and near the Hostels B Block, and this is killing the habitat of spotted deer. A student from the university said students are worried about the lack of nature conservation. “The zone where the administration is clearing the trees is a habitat for spotted deer. This is being done without a forest department approval,’’ he said.

A senior forest official from the Telangana Forest Department said, “I had been told that they would lay a road. They have gone ahead with the felling of trees. The district forest officer says they have not taken any permission. We have asked a forest official to inspect the spot and give a report.’’ CCF Ranga Reddy, S Kukrety, of the Telangana forest department said, “The fact is that all the agencies are supposed to take permission in advance. In this case, since they have not taken the permission, it will be taken as a violation of the rules.”