Unless this assurance was given, they said they would prevent the removal of the stumps of trees cut down at the State Secretariat.

FBH president M Vedakumar, Confederation of Voluntary Associations (COVA) executive director Mazher Hussain and FBH general secretary Omim Maneckshaw Debra held a protest at the helipad of the Secretariat today.

Speaking to reporters, Vedakumar said that as per the agreement with the GHMC no tree in the city should be felled without the permission of the commissioner, divisional forest officer and district tree protection committee of Hyderabad.

But the GHMC staff chopped down without permission about 14 trees on the pavement adjacent to the Secretariat helipad, he said, noting that the agreement allowed for felling only when translocation was not possible.

The FBH president said that in their endeavour to protect the city environs they had seen to it that hundreds of trees were translocated when they came in the way of road-widening.

And even if felling were unavoidable, he urged officials to plant 10 saplings for every tree brought down.

In the instant case of felling, he sought action against the officers responsible.