By Rithwik Sundar
Human health and safety are directly tied to air and water quality, green spaces, tree-lined streets, and reliable public transport. Hyderabad has faced rising temperatures, falling water tables, and the heat-island effect owing to lost green cover, rapid urbanisation, and increased pollution from private vehicles, which now average 10,000 vehicles per km., up from 6,500 five years ago. In this context, young Hyderabad demands the protection of Kancha, a vital 400-acre urban forest in Gachibowli.
During my time as a college student in Hyderabad, I frequently found myself at Hyderabad Central University, just a stone’s throw away from my own campus. Whether it was attending seminars, cultural events, or joining protests, the university became a hub for my social growth. I made many friends here, some of whom, like me, would steal away from the hustle to explore nature trails, scale rocky hills, and search for wildlife in the most unexpected places.
In the vicinity of the university campus premises was a vast expanse of green land, spanning many acres, dotted with massive rock formations. Here, two lakes, Buffalo Lake and Peacock Lake, support a variety of waterfowl, and the entire area is an urban forest. This region in Kancha, Gachibowli, is a crucial biodiversity hotspot for the city of Hyderabad, acting as a green lung for
the metropolis.
It is home to over 734 species of flowering plants, 10 species of mammals, 15 species of reptiles, 220 bird species, and countless insects. I had spotted many bird species here, and my friends who frequented the area had seen small herds of chital. Of course, there were also the occasional serpents, popping up in the hostel window frames.
Conservationists, wildlife experts, environmentalists, and local residents are uniting under the banner of ‘Save City Forest’ to oppose the TGIIC and demand protected status for the 400-acre land in Kancha, Gachibowli. Photo: UOH Students Union.
Another significant green space for the city is the KBR National Park, located near Banjara Hills. Despite its prime location in the city, it remains a Protected Area, unlike the one in Kancha, Gachibowli. The latter has now become a point of contention between the government, environmental activists, and students at Hyderabad Central University. A land movement is already brewing to protect the 400 acres of ecologically significant land I mentioned earlier from competing development interests.
At the onset of March, the Telangana Government put up this 400-acre parcel of urban forest for auction, located near the thriving IT hub of Gachibowli to the west of Hyderabad, where land demand has surged in recent years. The land, owned by the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC), was to be developed and auctioned in phases to potential buyers for monetisation purposes. On March 15, despite loud protests, the bidding for the auction of 400 acres of ecologically rich land came to a close.
Various groups, particularly student organisations, have expressed strong concerns over the auction, accusing authorities of prioritising corporate interests over academic and ecological values. Their objections are not without foundation. When the university was established in 1974, the Andhra Pradesh government allocated around 2,300 acres of land for academic and research purposes. However, in 2003, the government transferred 534 acres of this land to develop a private sports complex, which ultimately failed. The land was later reclaimed by the state government, and the 400 acres in question now come from this reclaimed area.
Students argue that this land is vital to the university’s campus, pointing out that over the years, large portions of the university land have been taken away by the state government for various developments, including a bus depot, the IIIT campus, a stadium, and a shooting range. They contend that the land should be preserved for its ecological value and allocated to the university for academic and research purposes, as well as future expansion.
A poster designed by the students of Hyderabad Central University to highlight the value of the land to both humans and wildlife. Photo: UOH Students Union.
G. Mohit, Ph.D. scholar and Vice President of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), HCU, remarks, “The auction is nothing but a move to prioritise the private interests of the Telangana government. No ecological survey has been conducted by the MoEFCC to date, and there has been no environmental impact assessment. The Telangana government has not followed any of the required guidelines. The proposed auction is in direct violation of the Wildlife Protection Act and Sustainable Development Goals. Schedule-I species have been sighted here, yet the government is choosing to overlook this. The SFI demands the withdrawal of the proposed auction and urges the state government to register the 2,300 acres of land in the name of the university to protect both education and the environment.” A Joint Action Committee has been formed, comprising the HCU Students’ Union, the Teachers’ Association, the Non-Teaching Association, and the Workers’ Union, to resist and protest the move.
Simultaneously, conservationists, wildlife experts, environmentalists, and local residents are uniting under the banner of ‘Save City Forest’ to oppose the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation’s (TGIIC) move and demand protected status for the 400-acre land in Kancha, Gachibowli. In a recent press release, the group called for the immediate withdrawal of the auction and the halting of any tree felling in the area. They have also demanded a comprehensive Biodiversity Impact Assessment and the declaration of the 400 acres in Kancha, Gachibowli, as a Protected Area. The group emphasised the need for the government to uphold the public trust doctrine and to fully comply with its fundamental duty to protect the environment, forests, and wildlife.
The reality that should concern investors, TGIIC, the state government, and city residents alike is the alarming decline in green cover in Rangareddy district. From 2000 to 2020, the district saw a 20 per cent reduction in green cover, from 1,500 sq. km. to 1,200 sq. km.
The loss of green cover has had significant environmental consequences. Groundwater levels, which averaged 15 m. in 2000, have now dropped to 25 m. in 2020, reflecting a 66 per cent decline. This is largely owing to the reduction of natural recharge zones, especially in areas such as Gachibowli and Manikonda. Furthermore, the region’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has worsened from 60 (Good) in 2000 to 120 (Moderate) in 2020. Therefore, it is all the more important to protect this urban forest and the ecological services it provides.
The land movement is in full swing, fighting to gain the attention it deserves as it battles against powerful interests driven by ignorance and a blatant disregard for natural heritage. As I skim through the pictures of the protests, I see student leaders standing beneath a massive boulder, supported by two narrow rocks resting on another large rock – the Mushroom Rock, a geological marvel and a piece of natural heritage nestled within this land. Many evenings, I hiked here with friends, taking in the wilderness view: peacocks running by, owls calling, and the serene lakes. But we also witnessed the slow, steady encroachment of the tech metropolis, its glimmering lights creeping ever closer to this green treasure. And now, that day has arrived sooner than we ever imagined.
