Begumpet Residents Protest Felling of 50 Trees at Historic Paigah Palace

Residents living around the 125-year-old Paigah Palace in Begumpet have protested the cutting of nearly 50 trees inside the historic campus by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA). The heritage property is currently undergoing renovation as the urban authority prepares to shift its headquarters there.

Neighbours reported that the trees were razed between Saturday and Monday morning, clearing greenery that had long provided shelter to local wildlife. Nearby residents expressed grief and anger over the sudden loss of green cover in the area.

Laxmi Narasimham, a retired employee and resident of Indian Airlines Colony who has lived in the area for 36 years, noted that the palace grounds were previously full of trees that provided habitat for peacocks, birds, honeycombs, and butterflies. Narasimham noted that the greenery had been preserved even when the premises housed the US Consulate General, but authorities have now cleared it.

Another neighbour, Srikanth, pointed out that the removal of trees left local bird populations homeless, adding that peacocks have now left the site.

Built around 1900 by the Paigah nobleman Sir Vicar-ul-Umra, the neo-classical landmark features a grand portico, Corinthian columns, semi-circular arches, and a soaring 56-foot atrium. The palace previously served as the office for the US Consulate General for more than a decade before the ongoing renovation for the HMDA headquarters commenced.

According to local residents, the palace grounds served as an essential lung space for approximately 1,000 families residing in the neighbourhood. I.V. Nagesh, president of the Indian Airlines Colony Association, questioned why the HMDA could not function without disturbing the surrounding greenery when the US consulate had managed to do so. Nagesh also stated that iron sheets used during the renovation work were removed and that residents were not given an opportunity to protest before the felling took place.

Responding to the concerns, HMDA executive engineer Dhanmohan Singh defended the action, stating that most of the felled trees had not shown growth. Singh added that some trees were relocated within the campus and maintained that all work was carried out with proper permissions following clearance from forest department officials.