Students allege felling of trees at Agri Varsity, but VC says invasive weeds cleared   

Tension prevailed on the Prof. Jayashankar Telangana Agriculture University (PJTAU) campus around midnight on Saturday, as students alleged razing of several acres using earthmovers.

The student-shot videos, with their voice and descriptions, circulated on social media showed the clearing of land near the botanical garden on the campus. They alleged that the native plant biodiversity was being removed, reportedly for the ‘Vana Mahotsavam’ or tree-planting festival of the State government.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy along with other Ministers, it was said, will participate in the programme to be held on Monday. As reports of alleged tree axing and clearing of vegetation began to be circuated, PJTAU Vice Chancellor Aldas Janaiah, confirming Mr. Reddy’s participation, released a clarification on the ongoing works.

In the note, he said that the campus is filled with invasive weeds such as Lantana, parthenium and Prospsis julioflora or sarkar thumma, besides profuse growth of eucalyptus, subabul – together leaving no space for native tree species.

“The massive plantation drive on Monday, by clearing the areas with these trees and weeds, is to revive the traditional native plants. Around 30 native timber, wild fruit, and wildflower-bearing tree species and other bamboo varieties are being planted to revive the botanical garden,” the note said.

Additionally, “About 150 acres with old eucalyptus and subabul will also be removed to make space for valuable timber-yielding varieties. The work has already begun, and ITC Limited, as per the tender awarded, will go on till next month. This area too will be used for Vana Mahotsavam,” he added.

As per the survey and enumeration of trees carried out by Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority-Urban Forestry wing in January 2025, the campus was divided into four blocks and it suggested the removal of 3,521 trees with intimation to the DFO, 114 trees to be removed with permission of Forest Department, and to retain 869 trees. Of them, 521 are eucalyptus trees and 3000 are subabul trees. The same was approved for auction, along with terms and condition for open auction, as per Director (Research) M. Balaram’s order, dated May 7.

The students who opposed the midnight works and seen in the exchange with the police, post clarifications from the university and the officials on Sunday, said they welcome the decision to improve the botanical garden as a ‘natural resource unit’.