Tensions have risen in Telangana as protests intensify against the clearing of a 400-acre urban “forest” in Kancha Gachibowli, Rangareddy district. This conflict began when the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) received approval to develop and auction this ecologically rich land, previously part of the University of Hyderabad.
Once a grazing area, the land is now a vital green space, home to over 17,000 trees and 220 species of birds. Despite protests, including lathi charges and arrests, construction began in March. Preliminary estimates suggest over 10,000 trees have been destroyed.
On April 3, the Supreme Court intervened, instructing the Telangana Chief Secretary to halt any further tree cutting and conduct an environmental impact assessment. The court ordered the protection of existing trees until further notice.
Local activists, students, and environmental groups have filed multiple Public Interest Litigations (PILs) to stop the project. Despite the Telangana High Court’s April 2 directive to cease the tree felling, the destruction continued, highlighting concerns over the government’s environmental priorities.
Environmentalists warn that the loss of this unique ecosystem could have serious consequences on the region’s biodiversity and water resources. With government plans to convert the area into an IT hub, the future sustainability of the land remains in question.
The Supreme Court will hear the matter again on April 16, as calls for the area to be recognized as a bio-heritage site grow louder.
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