Supreme Court Orders Telangana to Restore 100 Acres of Kancha Gachibowli Forest
The Supreme Court has ordered the Telangana government to submit a plan to restore 100 acres of deforested land in Kancha Gachibowli, Hyderabad, amid public protests and environmental concerns.
kowshik Reddy
In a major win for environmental conservation in Hyderabad, the Supreme Court of India has directed the Telangana government to submit a detailed restoration plan for 100 acres of deforested land in the Kancha Gachibowli area. The directive follows mounting concerns about illegal tree felling and land clearance in one of the city’s last significant urban forests.
The Green Lung of Hyderabad
Located near the University of Hyderabad, Kancha Gachibowli spans around 400 acres and is home to over 237 bird species, spotted deer, Indian star tortoises, and Indian rock pythons. The area plays a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance in the city and offers a much-needed green lung in the fast-developing western corridor.
Environmentalists and residents have raised serious objections to the Telangana government’s move to auction this land for infrastructure development. According to The Hans India, the auction aims to raise about ₹10,000 crore, sparking fears of irreversible environmental damage.
Public Protests and Student Activism
The proposed auction has sparked strong opposition from the public. Students from the University of Hyderabad organized a protest march demanding protection of the area and calling the move an ecological catastrophe. Details of the protest were covered in Sakshi Post.
Local residents, environmental groups, and nature enthusiasts have launched a campaign to safeguard the area, spreading awareness through social media under hashtags like #SaveKanchaGachibowli and #SaveUrbanForest. A full overview of the campaign was reported by NewsMeter.
Supreme Court Intervention
Responding to widespread public concern and legal challenges, the Supreme Court ordered a status quo on any further deforestation. The bench, comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and Augustine George Masih, expressed alarm at the large-scale tree felling and the absence of required environmental clearances.
The Court also directed the state to submit a full restoration and reforestation plan within four weeks. Additionally, the Chief Wildlife Warden of Telangana has been instructed to take immediate action to protect wildlife displaced due to the deforestation activities.
Political Reactions
The issue has also triggered a political war of words. Former minister and BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) strongly condemned the move and warned investors not to purchase the land, stating that his party would reclaim it if they return to power. His statement and the political implications are covered in NewsMeter.
Meanwhile, the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) maintains that the land is government-owned and not officially classified as forest, thereby defending its right to auction it for development.
What Happens Next
The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing for May 15, 2025. Until then, all tree-felling activity has been halted. Environmentalists hope this legal intervention leads to a more sustainable outcome, preserving Kancha Gachibowli as an ecological heritage for future generations.
