The Kancha Gachibowli land dispute in Hyderabad has escalated into a major legal and environmental battle, drawing Supreme Court intervention.
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HYDERABAD: The dispute over Hyderabad’s Kancha Gachibowli has become the center of a high-stakes legal, environmental, and political conflict. At the heart of this row is a contentious plan by the Telangana government to redevelop approximately 400 acres of land near the University of Hyderabad — a move that has triggered widespread protests by students, environmentalists, and civil society.
On April 16, 2025, the Supreme Court of India intervened in the matter, directing the Telangana Wildlife Warden to immediately safeguard the wildlife in the Kancha Gachibowli area. The apex court sternly cautioned the state government against further environmental damage, declaring that it
“can’t have high-rises in the company of deer.”
The court also ordered an immediate halt to tree-felling in the region. The matter is now scheduled for the next hearing on May 15.
What Sparked the Controversy?
The flashpoint emerged after the Congress-led Telangana government announced its intention to redevelop the 400-acre tract located adjacent to the University of Hyderabad campus. Students and environmental activists rapidly mobilized in opposition, accusing the government of violating existing Supreme Court directives and compromising the region’s ecological integrity.
Environmental groups, including the Vata Foundation, argue that the land hosts a fragile ecosystem home to a wide variety of wildlife. The foundation has demanded that the area be declared a
“deemed forest”
and has also recommended that it be recognized as a national park under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The protests gained further momentum as legal challenges mounted. Three Public Interest Litigations (PILs) have already been filed in the Telangana High Court. Ultimately, the matter reached the Supreme Court, which has now taken a strong position in favor of environmental preservation.
Disputed Ownership: Was the Land Ever Part of the University?
One of the central points of contention is the ownership history of the land. Student groups claim that the 400-acre parcel was originally part of the 2,324 acres allotted to the University of Hyderabad in 1974, under the Congress government’s six-point formula that followed the Telangana agitation.
However, no formal title transfer was completed at the time.Over the decades, portions of this land were diverted for various government projects. Institutions such as the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), and the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh were all established on parts of the university’s originally allocated land.
By 2010, more than 800 acres had been repurposed, according to media.
What Do Government Records Say?
The 400-acre plot in question was part of a 2004 land swap agreement during the tenure of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with the University of Hyderabad, agreeing to exchange 534 acres of university land for 396 acres elsewhere. Although a sale deed was executed just before the Assembly elections, the newly formed Congress government led by then-Chief Minister cancelled the transaction upon coming to power.
This led to a protracted legal battle. Eventually, the Supreme Court dismissed a Special Leave Petition challenging the cancellation, thereby allowing the present Congress government under Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to move forward with its development plans.
Why Are Environmentalists Strongly Opposing the Redevelopment?
Environmentalists argue that the area in question is not just any urban green space — it is a vital, biodiverse habitat. It reportedly hosts:
- 233 species of birds, including several endangered ones,
- Murricia Hyderabadensis, a rare and unique spider species found only in this region,
- Three reptile and 27 bird species protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972,
- 72 species of native trees, and
- Mushroom-shaped rock formations believed to be over two billion years old, representing significant geological heritage.
Moreover, critics point out that the proposed redevelopment is moving ahead without essential clearances, particularly a mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which is required for large-scale construction projects in ecologically sensitive zones.
Legal Grounds for Opposition
Students and environmentalists have argued before the Telangana High Court that the land in question qualifies as a forest under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. In addition to its ecological significance, they’ve also emphasized that the area acts as a critical catchment zone for reservoirs supplying drinking water to Hyderabad, making its conservation all the more essential.
Government’s Motivation: Financial Pressures and Land Monetisation
The Telangana government, on the other hand, is facing acute financial stress. With state debt projected to exceed ₹5 lakh crore by the end of the financial year 2025–26, the government is resorting to land monetisation to generate funds for its welfare programs and development projects.
This policy of auctioning state-owned lands for revenue was first introduced by Congress leader Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy and has since become standard practice. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has openly admitted the lack of capital expenditure funds, which is driving the urgency to auction high-value urban land like Kancha Gachibowli.
The government maintains that it has not encroached on university land and accuses opposition parties — particularly the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — of politicizing the issue by spreading misinformation.
The Road Ahead
As the Supreme Court continues to examine the case, the future of Kancha Gachibowli hangs in the balance. The situation encapsulates a larger debate playing out across India — one that pits economic development and land monetisation against ecological preservation and the rights of future generations to inherit natural landscapes.
The May 15 hearing will be crucial in determining whether Hyderabad’s shrinking green cover will be protected or sacrificed in the name of development.
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