Villagers in Telangana wage a war to protect 75-year-old Peepal tree
“I got the platform demolished and constructed the compound wall around it, because the platform was attracting drunkards and vagabonds. Villagers who are protesting now had helped me construct the wall. Now, an issue is being made out of it purely due to personal rivalries,” says owner who applied for felling permission
In a village in Telangana, villagers have united to protect a 75-year-old Peepal tree from being felled by the owner of a private property. The tree, located in the heart of the village, is considered sacred by the residents who use its 'Paala Komma' branch in various rituals, including weddings. The villagers claim that the tree was encroached upon by illegal structures, such as a cement platform and a compound wall constructed around it.
When the property owner applied to the Forest Department for permission to fell the tree, citing it as a hazard, the villagers banded together to object. They have made representations to the police, Forest Range Officer, Mandal Revenue Officer, Mandal Parishad Development Officer, District Collector, and the National Green Tribunal, requesting a comprehensive inquiry into the encroachment and demanding that the Peepal tree be declared a 'heritage tree'.
An 85-year-old villager, Kurva China Ramudu, states that he witnessed the tree being planted in his childhood, making it at least 70-75 years old. The Forest Range Officer confirmed that the tree is an exempted species and that permission for felling has not yet been granted, but objected to the felling due to the objections of the villagers.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
