When development threatened to turn 400 acres of Kancha Gachibowli’s deemed forest into a concrete jungle, Uday Krishna Peddireddi stepped in. A passionate wildlife photographer and founder of the Vata Foundation — an environmental non-profit dedicated to saving Hyderabad’s urban greenery —he filed a Public Interest Litigation in the Telangana High Court. His efforts halted state-led development plans and brought national attention to the issue.“The court granted a stay on the project aimed at converting a rich urban forest into a commercial layout,” he says. “Eventually, the Supreme Court even took it up Suo Moto. It’s now under review at the highest level.” That landmark battle is just one chapter in Uday Krishna’s green journey. Through the Vata Foundation, he has directly helped translocate over 7,000 trees and save more than 50,000 trees across 7–8 states in India. The Tree Helpline of India His personal phone is now known among activists as India’s unofficial Tree Helpline. “I get calls from across the country — people, corporates, RWAs — asking for help. It could be a tree damaging a wall, suggestions for layouts that spare trees, or just advice on adoption or conservation. Half my day goes into responding to these calls,” he smiles. But perhaps his most soulful project is the Big Tree Quest — a 40,000-km journey, where he is documenting India’s oldest and largest trees. The stories he’s unearthed are as deep-rooted as the trees themselves. “Some trees were sites of great historical significance. I came across trees where freedom fighters were hung. One of the most remarkable is the 430-year-old Baobab tree inside Golconda Fort. It has a hollow trunk that once hid 20 members of the royal family during an attack,” he shares. The condition of these trees, however, often tells a story of neglect. “Many of these heritage trees are dying without care. That’s why I will be requesting the Indian government to declare such trees as Heritage Trees and protect them for future generations.” It’s not just urban forests Uday is fighting for. In a unique partnership, the Vata Foundation has adopted the Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, a lesser-known tiger reserve on the Telangana–Maharashtra border. “We work alongside the Maharashtra Forest Department to complement their efforts and make the sanctuary more tiger-friendly. We step in where needed — be it resources, manpower, or infrastructure,” he says. Businessman, tree-lover, and conservationist, Uday Krishna is proof that one person with a deep-rooted passion can truly move forests — and save them too.
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