Residents Cry Foul As HMDA Chops Trees At Paigah Palace
Residents have protested the cutting of nearly 50 trees at Hyderabad’s historic Paigah Palace, which is being renovated as the new HMDA headquarters. Officials said permissions were obtained.
Residents around the 125-year-old Paigah Palace in Begumpet have raised an alarm after the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) cut down nearly 50 trees inside the heritage campus.
“They savaged all the greenery. Trees were razed between Saturday and Monday morning,” said Laxmi Narasimham, a retired employee and resident of Indian Airlines Colony. “I have lived here for 36 years. The palace was full of trees that gave shelter to peacocks, birds, honeycombs and butterflies. Even during the US consulate days, the greenery was maintained. But now the authorities have razed it all.”
Srikanth, another neighbour, said: “With the trees gone, most of the birds became homeless. The peacocks have left. It looks inhuman.”
The HMDA headquarters is being shifted to Paigah Palace, which is undergoing renovation. Built around 1900 by 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 earlier housed the US Consulate General for over a decade.
Residents said the palace provided lung space for nearly 1,000 families in the area. “Authorities did not even give us a chance to protest. When the US consulate could function without disturbing greenery, why can’t HMDA,” asked I.V. Nagesh, president of Indian Airlines Colony Association. He added that iron sheets used during renovation were also removed.
On the issue, HMDA executive engineer Dhanmohan Singh said: “Most of these trees had not shown growth. Some were relocated within the campus. The work was done with all permissions and only after forest officials gave the nod.”