AP High Court Bats For Translocation of Trees, Cites DC Report
This has made the initiative both practical and sustainable
VIJAYAWADA: Taking cognisance of a report published in Deccan Chronicle on large-scale tree translocation in Amaravati, the Andhra Pradesh High Court recently directed authorities to adopt similar measures to curb indiscriminate felling of trees during development of projects.
Hearing a public interest litigation (WP(PIL) No. 131 of 2023), a bench comprising Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Challa Gunaranjan observed that the newspaper report has highlighted successful translocation of around 4,000 trees in the Amaravati capital region, with plans to shift another 4,000 in the next phase.
The petitioner’s counsel Basheer Ahmed submitted that the model adopted by the Amaravati Development Corporation demonstrated an effective alternative to tree felling. Instead, specialised machinery is used to relocate mature trees with minimal damage.
Deccan Chronicle had reported that trees obstructing infrastructure works, such as roads and buildings, had been carefully uprooted and shifted to designated nurseries and buffer zones. This ensured the survival of trees, preserving their ecological value. Officials have reported a high survival rate of 85–90 per cent among the uprooted trees. This has made the initiative both practical and sustainable.
The High Court observed that despite the existence of a committee to examine these matters, there appear to be delays in implementing proven methods already in practice at Amaravati on preservation and translocation of trees.
The court emphasised that there is no justification in not replicating a successful model that balances development with environmental protection.
Directing authorities to expedite action, the APHC bench ordered that an action taken report (ATR) be filed before the next date of hearing on June 24, 2026.