Hyderabad’s green spaces are shrinking, and a new threat has emerged. The Telangana government plans to auction 400 acres of land in Kancha Gachibowli for real estate development. This decision has sparked protests from environmentalists, wildlife lovers, and former students of the University of Hyderabad (UoH). They argue that the land is an important ecological zone that supports many plant and animal species.
The Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) has started looking for a consultant to create a master plan for the auction. However, conservationists warn that selling the land could permanently harm a rich biodiversity hotspot that has been home to many species for decades.
A Wildlife Haven in Danger
The land in question includes the area around the famous Mushroom Rock. Many people consider it an extension of the UoH ecosystem. Ravi Kumar Jillapalli, a former UoH student and now a professor at Texas State University, explained that efforts to protect wildlife in the region have been ongoing for years.
“We worked hard to conserve this natural habitat. This auction isn’t just about losing land—it’s about losing an entire thriving ecosystem,” he said.
Jillapalli and other conservationists formed a group called Wild Lens to document and protect the region’s diverse plants and animals. The UoH campus itself is home to 734 species of flowering plants, 220 bird species, and 15 types of reptiles. Two lakes—Peacock Lake and Buffalo Lake—provide essential water for these species.
Wild Lens member Karthik Jirra recalled spotting large groups of peacocks, spotted deer, and wild boars during his walks. “I’ve seen over a hundred peacocks in a single morning. There are also pythons, porcupines, star tortoises, and even the rare four-horned antelope, which is a Schedule-I protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act,” he said.
Migratory birds like flamingos, pelicans, ibis, and the rare Verditer flycatcher from the Himalayas have also been documented in the area. Conservationists fear that destroying this green space would be a huge loss to Hyderabad’s natural heritage.
Legal Battle and Land Loss
The University of Hyderabad was established in 1974 on 2,324 acres of land. Over the years, parts of it have been taken for various developments, including IIIT Hyderabad, Gachibowli Stadium, a bus depot, and a shooting range. While there was no official land transfer, an agreement allowed the state government to reclaim land not used for academic purposes.
In 2004, the university signed an MoU with the state government to give up 534 acres for sports facilities. However, when the project didn’t happen, the government tried to take back the land. This led to a long legal battle. In 2023, the Telangana High Court ruled in favor of the state, allowing the current auction plans to move forward.
A Fight to Save Hyderabad’s Green Cover
Environmentalists and nature lovers are uniting under the group Save City Forest, urging the government to cancel the auction. They stress that Kancha Gachibowli’s greenery helps cool the city and reduce the effects of urban heat.
“With Hyderabad facing extreme summers, losing this forest will make heatwaves worse, increase air pollution, and destroy an important carbon sink,” the group said in a statement.
The activists plan to submit requests to the government, asking it to protect the land instead of giving it to developers. The outcome of this struggle could set an example for how Hyderabad balances urban growth with environmental conservation.
