Last Updated:
The Supreme Court slammed the Telangana government for unauthorised deforestation of 100 acres near the University of Hyderabad without proper permissions.
Students at the University of Hyderabad launch a protest demanding an immediate halt to tree felling and the withdrawal of heavy earth-moving machinery from the campus grounds. (PTI Image)
The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed concerns over clearing a large tree cover on a land parcel next to the University of Hyderabad in Telangana and said that temporary prisons could be constructed on the land for the officers to “enjoy”.
The court also directed the wildlife warden of the state to examine and put into effect, immediate steps that need to be taken to protect the wildlife affected due to deforestation.
The court remarked that prior permissions should have been sought if the state government wanted some construction over the land.
Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih, hearing the suo motu case in connection with the tree felling in the Kancha Gachibowli area, said, “We are only concerned about how so many trees were cut without permission of authorities.”
“If you want Chief Secretary to be saved from severe action, you have to come out with a plan as to how you would restore those hundred acres,” Justice Gavai said, in response to senior advocate AM Singhvi, who told the court that the felling of trees and the construction work in Telangana had been stopped.
“We will not go by interpretation of bureaucrats or ministers. We are surprised to see herbivorous animals in videos, they are running to seek shelter, bitten by stray dogs,” Justice Gavai said.
“Even private forests require the court’s permission to fell trees,” he remarked.
“We are concerned with the damage done to the environment. Any enactment which falls foul of this court’s 1996 order will not be tolerated,” Justice Gavai said.
“We are only concerned with the presence of bulldozers and erasing ofthe forest of 100 acres. If you wanted to construct, you should have taken permissions,” he added.
“In the meantime, we direct the Wildlife Warden of Telangana to examine and put into effect immediate steps required to protect wildlife affected on account of deforestation in 100 acres,” the court said.
“If you try to oppose restoration, then temporary prison for your officers. In the meantime, not a single tree will fall there. Have the bulldozers been removed?” it asked.
On April 3, the top court directed that until further orders, no activity of any sort, except the protection of the trees already existing there, shall be undertaken by the state or any authority.
The court took cognisance of the matter after it was brought to its notice by senior advocate K Parameshwar, who is assisting it as an amicus curiae in forest-related matters.
