The Telangana government proceeded with the clearance of land in Kancha Gachibowli village, Hyderabad's IT corridor, despite increasing protests from the University of Hyderabad students. This activity began on Sunday afternoon and continued into Monday, with additional earthmovers being brought in to expedite the process.
Situated in Rangareddy district, the state plans to auction 400 acres in Kancha Gachibowli, anticipating revenues between Rs 10,000 to 15,000 crore. The government asserts ownership of the land and aims to develop it into a hub with world-class IT parks, enhanced urban connectivity, and improved urban living spaces.
University students report that about 50 earthmovers are actively removing the greenery, disrupting the ecosystem even as a petition to preserve the area as a national park awaits a hearing in the High Court scheduled for April 7. The clearance of Kancha Gachibowli Forest (KGF) is expected to drastically impact the local climate, potentially increasing temperatures in the area by 1 to 4 degrees Celsius, according to a report.
An Ecological Heritage report by researcher Arun Vasireddy highlights that KGF hosts 233 bird species—more than the diversity found in KBR National Park and others around Hyderabad. The report emphasizes the low maintenance cost of the forest compared to the exorbitant expenses required to recreate even a small portion of such a natural habitat.
On Sunday, over 50 students were detained by Cyberabad police for attempting to prevent the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TIIC) from clearing the land. These students, citing a joint study by the University of Hyderabad and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-India conducted in 2008-09, argue that the area is a biodiverse ecosystem with over 455 species of flora and fauna, including various herbs, shrubs, and wildlife species.
INQUILAB ZINDABAD!
A slogan that scared the britishers!
A slogan that uprooted governments!
Save HCU Update: Day 3, 11:30pm
Students standing up against all odds!
Fighting for their right and fighting the right fight ✊🏼✊🏼✊🏼
I salute their spirit and their fight 👍🏼
#SaveHCU
#SaveHCUBioDiversity
#SaveHyderabadBioDiversity
#SaveHyderabadForest
#HyderabadCentralUniversity
#InquilabZindabad
Visual of the Day: Nature Has the Last Laugh!
At HCU, the same cops who lathi-charged, dragged, and filed cases against students protesting to protect trees and wildlife later found themselves seeking shelter from the scorching sun under the very trees they were helping the government remove.
Destroy nature, and it will remind you who's really in control!
#SaveHCU #SaveHCUBiodiversity