Students are protesting the Telangana government’s plan to develop IT infrastructure on 400 acres of land they claim belongs to the university. The protests escalated, leading to police intervention and a Supreme Court order to stop tree felling in the disputed Kancha Gachibowli area.
Acknowledging the ongoing deforestation, the apex court instructed the Telangana government to ensure that no further trees are cut down. In its directive, the court observed that authorities had seemingly exploited a long holiday weekend to expedite the land clearing process. The court also noted concerns, based on reports from Bar & Bench, that the forest serves as a habitat for eight protected animal species.
Simultaneously, tensions flared on the university campus as police responded to the protests with baton charges and the forceful removal of demonstrators. Security forces established a presence at the university’s main entrance, closely monitoring the situation and restricting entry to the general public.
“Na Telangana udyamala killa”
Finally, the Supreme Court has ordered a stay on the Kancha Gachibowli forest issue.
Take a bow for every student who fought against this corrupt and irresponsible government.
Jai Telangana…#SaveHCU
pic.twitter.com/dqsWgCNMEJ— St🅰️🅰️r King (@Hsathya) April 3, 2025
The unrest at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) originated from the Telangana government’s proposal to develop IT infrastructure across 400 acres in Kancha Gachibowli, a tract of land that students assert rightfully belongs to the university. The situation reached a critical point when land clearing operations commenced on Ugadi, just days before a scheduled hearing in the High Court regarding the matter. The UoH Students’ Union accused the university administration of betraying their trust by permitting police and heavy machinery onto the campus. Protesters are demanding the immediate withdrawal of security personnel, a written guarantee that the disputed land will be officially registered under the university’s ownership, and complete transparency concerning all land ownership documents.
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The Legal Dispute Over Kancha Gachibowli Land
The 400-acre land parcel in Kancha Gachibowli, now at the center of a legal battle, is slated for auction by the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Ltd. (TGIIC) for the development of IT infrastructure. The Telangana High Court had previously issued an order to halt all related activities until April 3rd. Petitioners have legally challenged the state government’s decision, arguing that it violates the Forest Conservation Act and poses a significant threat to the area’s ecological balance. Legal representatives for the petitioners argued that regardless of the land’s ownership, the rich biodiversity of the site would be irrevocably lost due to “narrow economic interests.”
Supreme Court has instructed the CS of Telangana not to cut down trees till further orders. It’s said the Animals got terrified due to loss of habitation near the Hyderabad central University – think once @revanth_anumula it’s a representative video of wild animal suffering… pic.twitter.com/dOOk0ud3Sj
— Dr Srinubabu Gedela (@DrSrinubabu) April 3, 2025
Motivations Behind the Hyderabad Student Protests
The UoH Students’ Union, in conjunction with allied student organizations and activist groups, has initiated an indefinite protest, which includes a boycott of classes that began on April 1st. Their primary demands are the immediate removal of all police personnel from the university campus and the withdrawal of all construction equipment from the disputed land. The protests intensified on March 31st after the state government reaffirmed its claim of ownership over the land, a claim that the university administration has publicly contested, stating that the land’s boundaries have not been finalized.
Contested Ownership of Kancha Gachibowli Land
The Telangana government maintains that the land in question is state-owned and intends to utilize it for the development of IT parks to generate employment opportunities. On March 30th, TGIIC commenced development work on the site in accordance with government directives. The following day, TGIIC asserted in court that the University of Hyderabad does not hold ownership of any portion of the disputed land. According to TGIIC, a land survey was conducted in July 2024 with the participation of university officials to finalize the land boundaries. However, UoH Registrar Devesh Nigam has refuted this claim, stating that no such survey was conducted, with the exception of a preliminary inspection of the land’s topography.
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Central Government Seeks Report on Alleged Illegal Deforestation
The Union Environment Ministry has requested a comprehensive factual report from the Telangana government regarding the alleged illegal clearing of 400 acres of forest land in the Kancha Gachibowli area. Furthermore, the ministry has directed the state’s chief forest officer to initiate legal action under the relevant forest and wildlife protection laws. The ministry cited various media reports alleging significant environmental damage, including harm to local wildlife, water bodies, and unique rock formations.
Political Reactions to the Issue
The controversy surrounding the Kancha Gachibowli land has elicited strong reactions from various political parties. Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) strongly criticized the Congress-led Telangana government, asserting that the land rightfully belongs to the people of Hyderabad. He pledged to develop a substantial ecological park on the site if his party is returned to power.
“We are simply urging Revanth Reddy not to undo the positive work done by the previous BRS government. Despite the ongoing student protests, his actions are autocratic… The state government’s handling of this issue is farcical. When the BRS regains power, we will establish the largest eco-park there, accessible to both students and the general public. Where is Rahul Gandhi? Why has he remained silent on the students’ protests? The Chief Minister is acting like a broker, selling public land to real estate developers. Does Rahul Gandhi not have a responsibility to intervene?” KTR questioned.
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BJP MLA Payal Shankar also voiced criticism of the Congress government, stating that while the land may be owned by the state, this does not grant the government the authority to sell it.
“Students and environmentalists are demanding that these 400 acres be allocated to the university. Why is the government disregarding their pleas? The government can secure funds through various means, but land adjacent to the university cannot be created anew. The government must abandon its plans to sell this land,” he stated.
However, Telangana Minister Sridhar Babu refuted the allegations made by the opposition, asserting that the state government has neither acquired nor forcibly taken any land belonging to the university.
As the legal and political battle over the Kancha Gachibowli land intensifies, students, environmental activists, and opposition parties continue to resist the Telangana government’s development plans, setting the stage for a potentially protracted confrontation.
