Stump of an axed tree near the KBR National park in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. File
| Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL
Four volunteers who had been protesting the tree felling around the KBR National Park in Hyderabad have been detained by the police, and are reportedly waiting at the Banjara Hills Police Station.
According to sources, a few volunteers noticed tree felling activity in the wee hours of Wednesday (May 13, 2026), and asked the workers involved to stop, saying it was illegal to fell trees. When the workers did not yield, they reportedly formed a human chain around the tree, and stalled the workers for some time.
“At around 3 a.m., the volunteers dispersed and headed for their homes. A person, Durga Prasad, crossing the road was accosted by the police after the tree felling workers identified him, and taken to the police station,” a volunteer said.
After the news spread, three more volunteers — who went to the police station in the morning — were also detained allegedly after a heated argument with the police. One of the three, Vijay Mallangi, is an environmental activist, while the names of the other two are not known.
“The police is levelling false allegations, saying the volunteers demanded money from the tree cutters. This is outrageous. Why would they demand money from tree cutters?” the volunteer asked. While no information is forthcoming from the police, it was learnt that the police was in the process of booking cases against the detainees.
A motley group of residents and environmental activists have risen up against the tree felling — around the National Park — taken up to make way for seven flyovers and seven underpasses as part of the Hyderabad City Innovative and Transformative Infrastructure project.
While the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is claiming that the trees in the Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of the park are not touched, a case is already pending in the High Court disputing the ESZ fixed without public hearing. Activists are claiming that the work was started before the court vacated the stay on the project. Several protests have taken place near the park under the ‘Save KBR Park’ banner, including candle light vigils and human chains around the park.
Published – May 13, 2026 11:52 am IST
