(Image source from: PTI)
A significant dispute has arisen in Telangana regarding the planned auction of 400 acres located near Hyderabad Central University. Students and environmental advocates are contesting the state government's choice to permit land clearance for an IT park. This issue has now been submitted to the High Court of Telangana, which is scheduled to review the case on Wednesday. The legal struggle is anticipated to continue. This conflict has its roots in decades past. The Hyderabad Central University asserts that the 400 acres fall within the 2,324 acres it was allocated in 1975. However, a ruling by the High Court in 2022 determined there was no legal documentation supporting the transfer of this land to the university. The Supreme Court later upheld this ruling, affirming government ownership of the property.
In spite of this legal decision, students and environmental advocates maintain that the area in question is ecologically delicate. They assert that it hosts over 455 different species of plants and animals, including peacocks, buffalo lakes, and mushroom rocks. Activists from the Vata Foundation, a non-governmental organization, have submitted a petition requesting that the area be designated as a national park under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, seeking ‘deemed forest’ status. Reports indicate the case reached the High Court on Tuesday due to the students filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) aimed at halting the state’s land allocation to the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC). The High Court plans to examine both the students’ petition and a previous one from the Vata Foundation.
Simultaneously, the Telangana government has commenced land clearing activities. Protesters claim that bulldozers and earthmovers are being used, along with tree removal and rock extraction. University students have initiated demonstrations, alleging that police are forcibly evicting them. The land controversy has also taken on a political dimension. KT Rama Rao, the former Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana and leader of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), accused the Congress government of compromising the remaining ‘green lungs’ of Hyderabad, as reported. He stated, “HCU and its neighboring regions represent some of the last green lungs in this area of the city. Destroying them without conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment constitutes a crime against the future of Hyderabad.”
Criticizing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, he remarked, “This is a blatant act of environmental destruction by annihilating 400 acres of vital green space in western Hyderabad. If you remain silent now, you will bear the responsibility, Rahul Gandhi.”
The Telangana government, which is led by the Congress party, has stood by its decision, explaining that the land in question was first allotted to a private corporation in 2004 during the administration of then-Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu. Following a series of legal proceedings, the Supreme Court favored the state in this matter. The government asserted, "A recent survey has shown that not a single inch of land is owned by the University of Hyderabad." Additionally, the Congress administration accused the opposition of making the issue a political matter. They emphasized that the initiative strikes a balance between developmental progress and environmental conservation. "Those who oppose this project have personal interests and are deceiving the student body," declared the government.
In response, the Hyderabad Central University dismissed the claim from the government regarding a survey being performed to outline the land boundaries. Registrar Devesh Nigam remarked, "The University of Hyderabad has been appealing to the state government for the transfer of its land. We will present the views of the stakeholders to the state authorities, urging them to reconsider our concerns and to prioritize the protection of the environment and biodiversity in the region." Protests related to this situation have resulted in confrontations with law enforcement. Two students were taken into custody as part of 53 "preventive arrests." The opposition party, BRS, accused police of employing excessive force, including dragging students by their hair and assaulting them. Nevertheless, the police denied any claims of baton charging and asserted that those arrested were not affiliated with Hyderabad Central University as current students.
