Hyderabad Trees Cut Down After Drunken Brawl: Forest Department Fines Perpetrators

In Hyderabad's RTC Colony, Chintalkunta, two fully grown trees — a 40–45-year-old peepal and a 20–25-year-old jamun — were chopped down in separate incidents linked to a drunken brawl that occurred about two years ago. The trees stood on the margins of a 40-foot road under the Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation, having survived a road widening in 2016.

Locals reported that a neem tree at the same location had been removed a few years ago on the pretext of obstructing electrical wiring. Subsequently, a scuffle broke out between residents of a nearby gated community and individuals consuming liquor under the peepal tree. The altercation escalated into physical violence, leading to criminal cases.

Less than a month ago, around the time Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy launched the Vanamahotsavam-2026 tree plantation drive, attempts were made to fell the peepal tree by chopping its branches. Forest Department officials were alerted, and a beat officer issued a warning but did not take further action. The following day, the tree was cut down to a stump. After receiving a complaint, forest officials conducted a panchanama and imposed a fine of ₹50,000, which was promptly paid.

The perpetrators sold the timber from the peepal tree after paying the penalty. Forest officials did not intervene, stating that the tree belonged to the municipality, which was authorized to act. In the night between July 5 and 6, the jamun tree was also cut down, with no apparent fear of consequences.

Forest Department officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, cited an agreement between the parties involved in the earlier criminal case as the root cause. Under the agreement, the aggrieved side demanded the trees be removed in exchange for a compromise in the case.

Uday Krishna Peddireddi of the Vata Foundation criticized the incident, stating, "It only goes to show how easy it is to cut down fully grown trees in Hyderabad. The irony is, it was done twice at the same location by the same people despite Forest Department intervention, which now only imposes a paltry fine. They cannot bring back the trees — native varieties that provide oxygen and support extensive life." He argued that such insensitivity reflects the attitudes of those in power and called for the Forest Department to ensure six trees are planted at the same spot and file criminal cases against the offenders.