Removal of green trees in the name of road expansion.. Villagers concerned about threat to environment.. Villagers concerned about the attitude of the authorities Yacharam Mandal, Medipalli: The work of widening the main road from Takkalpalli to Medipalli Pallechelkatanda under the auspices of the Telangana Rural Infrastructure Services Department (TGISS) is currently progressing rapidly. However, as part of this road expansion work, the removal of large-scale trees on both sides of the road with JCBs is causing great concern among the local people, farmers and environmentalists. Thousands of trees were planted along this road under the ambitious Haritha Haram program undertaken by the state government in 2015. These trees, which were planted as small saplings at that time, have now grown into huge trees and provide cool shade to the passengers and pure oxygen to the surrounding areas. These trees are a great relief to the people travelling on this route during the summer season. Moreover, the villagers say that these trees are meeting the cooking sugar needs of poor families who still cannot use gas cylinders in rural areas. Farmers also claim that tree branches and leaves are useful in many ways. Villagers are expressing their concern that such trees, which are useful for public purposes, are being indiscriminately removed in the name of road expansion. While the government is spending crores of rupees to protect the environment and is implementing the Haritha Haram program, people are questioning how justified it is to cut down the same trees in the name of development work. Environmental experts warn that if trees are destroyed, climate change could become more severe in the future. “Only if there are trees can it rain… only if there are trees can the ecosystem survive,” locals say. They say that rising temperatures, decreasing groundwater, and lack of rainfall are already causing serious problems for people. They are concerned that if these trees are completely removed now, oxygen shortage and water problems are likely to worsen in the coming days. Although road expansion is necessary, people are demanding that steps be taken to carefully remove the trees and replant them in another area instead of completely cutting them down. They are demanding that the government undertake a large-scale tree plantation program in an area of about 20 acres, especially in the Pharmacity area of Yacharam mandal. They are demanding that the authorities take steps to plant at least ten trees in place of every tree removed. The villagers are appealing that nature conservation is everyone’s responsibility and that equal priority be given to environmental protection along with development works. Local people, farmers and environmentalists are demanding that the authorities respond immediately, review the removal of trees and take appropriate steps to protect the environment.
