A significant land conflict in the vicinity of Hyderabad Central University (HCU) has set off protests and court cases, with students and activists firmly objecting to the Telangana government’s move to acquire 400 acres of land in Kanchan Gachibowli for development. The state government, under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, recently notified the land as government land and started leveling the ground. But this has been greeted by vehement opposition from environmentalists, students, and opposition parties who say the land should be protected as a green belt and not turned over for industrial purposes.
In the midst of growing tensions, the Vata Foundation, an environmental NGO, intervened by seeking a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Telangana High Court. The NGO is petitioning the court to safeguard the land as a national park on the grounds that development will have irreparable damage to the environment and local ecosystem.
The case was heard by the Telangana High Court on April 2 at 2:15 PM, wherein both parties laid their arguments. Following a hearing of the case, the court passed an interim order, directing the government to stop all tree-cutting and construction work on the property instantly. The hearing will be resumed on April 3.
During the court proceedings, the petitioner’s legal team argued that the land is home to various wildlife species and should be safeguarded. They referred to a Supreme Court ruling that mandates approval from an expert committee before any forest land can be cleared. The petitioner claimed that the Telangana government bypassed this requirement and began tree felling without proper authorization.
Countering these claims, the government’s legal counsel presented Google Earth images as evidence, asserting that the land does not meet the criteria of a forest. The lawyer went a step further, arguing that even golf courses have peacocks, deer, and snakes—but that doesn’t make them forests. The state maintained that the land has been designated for industrial purposes and that the government’s actions are within legal limits.
After hearing both sides, the High Court ruled in favor of a temporary halt, barring any further tree cutting or development until more evidence is presented. The government has been directed to submit additional documentation clarifying the land’s legal status.
With the next hearing set for April 3, the fate of this land remains uncertain. Environmentalists and activists are hopeful that the court will prioritize conservation over industrial expansion, while the state government continues to push for its development plans.
