Ranchi Hill, which has been hogging the headlines since January this year for an ill-conceived project of hosting the 'highest' Tricolour, may also be in danger of caving in, thanks to the district administration's beautification work.

Noted capital-based geologist and environmentalist Nitish Priyadarshi said about half the original 1,000 old trees of the 500-million-year-old hill were already gone since March, when the beautification work began.

"If old trees, which so far held the topsoil, are gone, rains will wash away the layers," Priyadarshi, a fellow of Geological Society of India, researcher for Union ministry of science and technology, said.?

He added a decade ago he had warned the district administration not to tamper with the ancient Ranchi Hill, 2,149-feet high above sea level and the pride of the city.

"I had asked officials not touch the hill. I'd explained why construction should be avoided there. In geological terms, weathered rocks have built Ranchi Hill. Such rocks wear away gradually, on their own accord. Let us artificially not hasten the process so much so that the hill collapses on its own in a few years," the geologist said.

In February 2014, then chief minister Hemant Soren laid the foundation stone for the development-cum-beautification project of Pahari Mandir, the Shiva temple atop Ranchi Hill, a project to be completed in two phases.

The jobs included reconstruction and beautification of the temple, repair of approach roads, landscaping of the temple area and putting up an elevator. Right now, devotees have to climb 468 steps to reach the summit.

After a two-year delay, Ranchi district administration started the work, but the rapid tree-felling has alarmed even vendors in the area.

"We are all seeing how age-old trees are being chopped off. The district administration assured us they would beautify and renovate this place without harming it but all you see are logs lying here and there," alleged Murari Singh, owner of a betel shop on the foothills.

"Yes, it's worrying," said another local vendor Mithu Lal. "They are spoiling our heritage in the name of beautification."

Contacted, Ranchi DC Manoj Kumar, who also happens to be the chairman of Ranchi Pahari Mandir Vikas Samiti, claimed they were "trying to avoid felling of old trees as far as possible".

"Yes I am aware trees have been felled," the DC said. "But in our renovation plan we have provisions for water harvesting, conservation and tree plantation," he said.?

Should the state rethink the temple beautification plan? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com