Responding to reports of deforestation in the biodiversity-rich region, the court directed the Telangana government to stop cutting trees. “News items shows that the authorities, taking advantage of long holidays over the weekend, have rushed through in felling the trees,” the court observed. The order also referred to the presence of eight species of scheduled animals in the forest, as noted by Bar & Bench.
What is the dispute about?
The case centres on a 400-acre parcel in Kancha Gachibowli village, which the Telangana government intends to auction through the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Ltd. (TGIIC) for IT infrastructure development.
The Telangana High Court had earlier instructed the state government to suspend all activity on the land until April 3.
Petitioners have objected to the land being handed over to TGIIC, claiming the move violates the Forest Conservation Act. A counsel representing the petitioners said the area’s biodiversity would be destroyed for “narrow economic interests,” regardless of whether it is held by the state or the university.
Student protests intensify
The University of Hyderabad Students’ Union, with support from allied groups, has launched an indefinite protest and announced a class boycott that began April 1. Their demands include the removal of police presence from the campus and the withdrawal of all earth-moving equipment from the site.
Student and environmental groups oppose the proposed construction, citing ecological damage. Tensions escalated on March 31, when the state government asserted ownership of the land. The University of Hyderabad’s Registrar, however, contested the claim, stating that boundary demarcation had not been completed.
State’s stand on land ownership
The government maintains the land is state-owned and a part of a plan to build IT parks and generate employment.
On March 30, TGIIC began development work on the site, acting on a government order. The following day, it said its ownership of the land had been upheld in court and that the University of Hyderabad held no claim.
TGIIC also said the university had agreed to a land survey in July 2024, during which boundaries were finalised in the presence of university officials. However, University Registrar Devesh Nigam denied this, stating no such survey had been carried out. He said only a preliminary inspection of the land’s topography had taken place.
Centre asks for report
The Union Ministry of Environment has sought a detailed report from the Telangana government on the “illegal clearing of vegetation on 400 acres of forest land.” The ministry has also instructed the state’s additional chief secretary (forests) to initiate legal proceedings under relevant forest and wildlife laws.
In a letter sent Wednesday, the ministry stated: “The ministry has come to know about the illegal felling and removal of vegetation in Kancha Gachibowli Village, Ranga Reddy district of Telangana by the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC). There have also been various news reports in the print and social media in this regard alleging damage to the wildlife found in the said land, its lakes and the unique rock formations in the area.”
Political responses to the issue
BRS Working President KT Rama Rao criticised the Congress-led state government, saying the land belongs to the people of Hyderabad. He pledged that his party would develop an ecological park on the land if returned to power.
“We are just asking Revanth Reddy not to undo the good works done by the KTR government… Despite the students’ protests, Revanth Reddy is behaving like a monarch… The state govt has become a joke… We will be back in power and will build the biggest Eco Park there that will be accessible to the people and the students… Where is Rahul Gandhi? Why is he silent on the issue of students’ protests? The chief minister works as a broker, and he sells the land that belongs to the people to real estate agents. Isn’t it Rahul Gandhi’s responsibility to control the CM?” KTR said.
BJP MLA Payal Shankar also criticised the government, saying, “Today, students and environmentalists are demanding 400 acres of land for the university, but why is the government not listening to them?… The government can bring money from wherever it wants, but it cannot generate another land adjacent to the university. They should withdraw their thoughts of selling that 400 acres of land.”
Telangana Minister Sridhar Babu denied the opposition’s claims, saying the government had not taken any part of the university’s land by force.
Congress leader Kota Neelima responded, “The facts have been made clear by many cabinet ministers of the Telangana government repeatedly over the last two days. The fact has been made clear before everyone that the land belongs to the government and also that the Supreme Court has given orders, after which, the action is being taken… Students who were peacefully protesting, how did they get politicised? Why are BJP and BRS playing politics with the youth and students of HCU? The only way forward is a debate… They are only creating a crisis in which ordinary citizens and students will be the victims.”
