Moinabad residents allege transplanted NH-163 banyan trees are dying from neglect
Environmentalists and local residents in Moinabad have raised serious concerns over the survival of heritage banyan trees transplanted along the Hyderabad-Manneguda stretch of NH-163, alleging that the trees are dying due to unscientific relocation methods and neglect. The complaints intensified after the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) posted an update on July 15 claiming the trees were being saved through transplantation.
The controversy follows a National Green Tribunal (NGT) decision that cleared a revised alignment for the highway widening project. The order allowed the NHAI to retain 765 of the 915 heritage banyans in situ, while approximately 150 banyans and 415 other trees were to be translocated under expert supervision.
However, local residents and activists report that the transplantation has been poorly executed. Several transplanted banyans are showing signs of severe stress, with some appearing dead and others drying up after initially sprouting fresh leaves. A Moinabad resident alleged that many of these relocated trees have not been watered for nearly two weeks.
Environmentalist Uday Krishna criticized the transplantation process, claiming that many large banyans were pruned into "small stumps" before being moved. He stated that a banyan's survival depends on preserving its structure, and that drastically cutting them down does not constitute scientific transplantation.
Environmentalists also raised objections to the felling of other mature trees along the corridor, noting that over 100 mature copper pod trees were cut down near Aziz Nagar.
A ground survey conducted by forestry masters students L Siddhartha and Boda Vijendar flagged significant discrepancies. Their study revealed that only 867 trees currently exist at the site, with most damaged to some extent. The researchers found that at least 184 banyans had been burnt at the base, while over 300 others showed damage including burnt branches, partially burnt trunks, and heavy pruning.
In response to the damage, Uday Krishna said that over 500 citizens volunteered online to adopt and relocate nearly 300 to 400 trees near the Chilkur Balaji Junction. Although organizers reached out to the NHAI and concerned authorities to coordinate the relocation, they have not received a response.
