Villagers in Telangana wage a war to protect 75-year-old Peepal tree

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Image used for representational purposes only. | Photo Credit: rohini pandey

In a world where trees are considered a hazard and hindrance to development, a village in Telangana is standing by the tree they loved and cherished for decades.

Residents of Pedda Thandrapadu, a village in Rajoli mandal of Jogulamba Gadwal district, have forged a united front against attempts to pull down a Peepal tree (Ficus religiosa) located inside the premises of a private property.

The villagers approached the authorities at Mandal level during recently held ‘Prajavani’ programme, and submitted a representation seeking protection of the Peepal tree at the village centre, which they claimed was encroached upon by illegal structures.

“There was a cement platform raised around the tree earlier, where people used to relax and conduct village meetings. But the platform was demolished later, and a compound wall was constructed enclosing the tree,” said a villager unwilling to be quoted.

Matters got worse when the property owner applied to the Forest Department seeking permission to fell the tree, calling it a hazard. Getting wind of the application, all the villagers banded together to object to it. They made representations to the police, the Forest Range Officer, the Mandal Revenue Officer, the Mandal Parishad Development Officer, the District Collector, and the National Green Tribunal, requesting them to stop the felling.

“The tree is a part of our lives. For generations, we have been using its ‘Paala Komma’ (sacred branch) in various rituals, such as weddings. We seek a comprehensive inquiry into how the tree was encroached upon,” the petitioners said, demanding that the Peepal be declared a ‘heritage tree.’

Kurva China Ramudu, an 85-year-old villager, vouches that he had witnessed the tree being planted during his childhood, which makes it easily about 70-75 years old.

Jangam Bhogeshwar Rao, the owner who applied for felling permission, said his parents bought the piece of land during the 1960s, which was later divided among the siblings.

“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,” he alleged.

A government teacher, he says he is ready to even bear the cost of translocation if needed. However, the root mass of the tree would be so huge that it would pose a danger to the structural stability of the house if translocation is attempted.

Village Panchayat Secretary Durga Prasad, when sought his version, said there was no apparent dispute about the title of the land, and confirmed that the existing documents vouch it as private land. Panchayat has not taken any decision with regard to the tree felling, and no proposal for alternative land allocation to the owner is made.

Forest Range Officer Parvez Ahmed said permission has not yet been granted for felling of the tree, upon objections by the villagers.