Tension gripped the Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) in Hyderabad late Saturday night as nearly 20 bulldozers entered the campus and began uprooting trees in the botanical garden. Students residing in university hostels rushed to the site upon learning of the activity and confronted police officials about the tree removal. When their questions went unanswered, the students launched a protest, chanting “Vruksho Rakshati Rakshitah” (One who protects trees is protected), expressing concern over the alleged destruction of over 500 plant species, including medicinal ones. Videos of the bulldozers at work quickly spread on social media, sparking public outrage.
According to reports, the tree clearance was part of preparations for the upcoming Vana Mahotsavam plantation program scheduled to be launched by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on July 7. The university’s vice chancellor, Prof. Aldas Janaiah, issued a statement on Sunday clarifying that only Subabul and Eucalyptus trees were being removed due to their harmful impact on the soil and environment. He stated that this removal has been ongoing for the past month and that approximately 150 acres of such species would be cleared to make room for valuable, timber-yielding trees as part of the green drive.
Prof. Janaiah dismissed claims of a police presence at the hostels and insisted that all university activities were proceeding peacefully. However, the students’ protest echoed wider concerns following recent tensions at Hyderabad University over the proposed conversion of Kancha Gachibowli land into an IT park. The unfolding events at PJTSAU have once again highlighted the fragile balance between environmental preservation and urban development in Telangana, urging policymakers to ensure transparency and student engagement in campus-related decisions.
