Battle for Kancha Gachibowli: UoH protests and legal heat on Telangana over Hyderabad’s last green haven

Govt proposes eco-sensitive zone amid SC halt and growing public outcry

In a dramatic escalation over environmental concerns in Hyderabad, the Telangana government’s development plans for 400 acres of land in Kancha Gachibowli, adjacent to the University of Hyderabad (UoH), have come under legal and public scrutiny. Amid intense protests by students and environmental groups, both the Telangana High Court and the Supreme Court have intervened to halt deforestation and assess whether the land qualifies as a “deemed forest.”

The area, referred to as the “lung space” of Hyderabad, has become the focal point of a multi-dimensional conflict involving students, environmentalists, the state government, and the judiciary.

How it started: Protests over tree felling

On March 30, 2025, students of UoH noticed earth movers entering Kancha Gachibowli and razing what they claimed was ecologically rich forest land. Sounds of distressed peacocks and wildlife allegedly echoed across the area as trees were felled without warning. This triggered protests, with support from the Vata Foundation and civil society groups.

The protests intensified after photographic and video evidence emerged, showing large-scale clearing of land, the deployment of earth movers, and reports of a nearby lake being affected. Calls for halting the environmental damage reached the Supreme Court, which took suo motu cognisance of the issue.

Legal blow: Courts step in

The Telangana High Court issued an interim stay on all development activities over the 400-acre tract following petitions from students and environmental NGOs. The court directed that no further action be taken until a hearing scheduled for Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court went a step further, halting all deforestation in the area and making Telangana’s Chief Secretary personally accountable. A report by the High Court Registrar highlighted massive deforestation, prompting the apex court to ask the state government for documentation, including:

• Whether an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was conducted
• If proper permissions were secured from forest authorities

The court warned of severe consequences for non-compliance, stressing the urgency to protect the remaining green cover and wildlife in the area.

Government’s stand and proposed solution

While defending its actions, the Telangana government, through Advocate General Sudershan Reddy and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, maintained that the land was not officially classified as forest. They cited previous commercial allocations to IMG Academy in 2004 and claimed only shrubs—not trees—were being cleared.

Despite this, growing public outcry and legal pressure have pushed the government to consider a middle ground. It now plans to declare the 400 acres—and potentially more—as an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ). The proposal may include the UoH campus itself.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has formed a ministerial committee to address the issue. The panel includes:

• Deputy CM Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka
• IT and Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu
• Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy

The government is also considering allotting alternative land in the proposed “Future City” for the University’s expansion, balancing conservation efforts with planned industrial development.

Security measures and student arrests

Amid tensions, Cyberabad Police imposed Section 163 of the BNSS (formerly Section 144 CrPC), restricting public entry to the disputed area. An FIR was filed against 54 UoH students under Section 170 of the BNSS for staging “unauthorized” protests.

What’s at stake?

The controversy underscores a larger struggle between environmental conservation and developmental ambitions. Students and activists argue that the land is a critical habitat, pointing to the presence of peacocks, snakes, and other species. The Supreme Court echoed this concern, indicating that such biodiversity suggests a forested ecosystem.

The state, on the other hand, asserts the land was reclaimed from a failed commercial project and does not meet the legal threshold for forest land.

The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has been tasked with reviewing the environmental damage and reporting back to the court. Meanwhile, all activity in the region remains frozen until further orders.

Looking ahead

The outcome of this case could set a precedent for how ecologically sensitive areas within urban expansion zones are treated in India. With multiple hearings scheduled and legal accountability looming over the state administration, the Kancha Gachibowli case has become a high-stakes test of environmental governance in Telangana.

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