NOB- Shadnagar news: When 3,000 saplings were razed to the ground within the ‘Palle Prakruthi Vanam’ a project ambitiously undertaken by the government, one would expect the MLA to demand action against those responsible. Instead, it is noteworthy that he questioned the value of the green space, asking, “Aren’t those just weeds? What benefit do they actually provide?” Does a green space only qualify as a ‘forest’ if it contains Sandalwood and Teak trees? Nature enthusiasts are outraged, questioning whether this is the true value the MLA places on the oxygen provided by plants and on environmental balance. Can construction be undertaken at that site? What does the law say? (The 10% Land Rule) The specific plot in question at Veerlapalli is the 10% ‘Open Space’ allocated to the Gram Panchayat by the management of the ‘Sphurthi Venture’ layout. According to G.O. No. 168 (TBR 2012) and various Supreme Court verdicts, the 10% land allocated within a layout must be utilized exclusively for parks, playgrounds, or green cover. Under no circumstances should multi-purpose community halls, permanent cement structures, or commercial buildings be constructed on this land. The MLA’s assertion that a multi-purpose building would be constructed there constitutes a blatant violation of layout regulations. The removal of 3,000 saplings without providing any information to, or even issuing notices to, the Village Sarpanch, Secretary, or MPDOs falls under the category of ‘destruction of public property.’ Legally, this constitutes a criminal offense. Instead of registering cases against the culprits, MLA Shankar has chosen to stand in their defense asking, “Shouldn’t the land be leveled for the sake of development?” Villagers are now expressing suspicions that there may be an underlying motive involving land encroachment behind this stance. While governments strive to promote greenery, it is baffling to witness what is unfolding at the local level. On one hand, the State Government seeks to protect the environment through initiatives like ‘Hydra’, yet, at the grassroots level, the public finds it utterly unacceptable that an MLA from the ruling party is actively destroying the greenery. Locals are demanding that the District Collector and senior Forest Department officials intervene in the Veerapalli incident to restore the ravaged forest and ensure that no further construction activities are undertaken in violation of established regulations.