HCU Biodiversity Under Threat: Telangana HC Halts Tree Cutting

The Silent Green Battle: Hyderabad Central University’s Biodiversity Faces Extinction

Hyderabad, Telangana – In the heart of Hyderabad, nestled amidst the chaos of urbanization and industrial expansion, lies a patch of land that has been home to generations of flora, fauna, and students seeking solace in nature. The forests surrounding Hyderabad Central University (HCU) have long been more than just an ecological treasure—they are a part of the identity of the campus itself.

But today, those trees stand in silent protest, their roots trembling as bulldozers inch closer. The calls of spotted deer and the rustling of ancient tamarind trees are being drowned out by the roar of machines, and the very essence of this sanctuary is under threat.

A legal battle, an environmental crisis, and a student uprising have erupted in response to what many are calling an assault on nature.

A Land at the Edge of Destruction

The Telangana government’s Government Order (GO) 54, issued on June 26, 2024, set off a chain reaction of resistance. The 400 acres of land in Kancha Gachibowli, adjacent to the HCU campus, was earmarked for industrial development under the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TGIIC).

The decision was met with immediate outrage. Environmentalists, professors, students, and local residents knew what was at stake: this was not just another piece of government land—it was a thriving ecosystem. The area hosts an intricate network of wildlife, including spotted deer, wild boars, peacocks, monitor lizards, Indian rock pythons, and even the elusive star tortoise. Two natural lakes serve as a lifeline for migratory birds and play a crucial role in maintaining the water table of the surrounding region.

Among its most unique features is Mushroom Rock, a geological wonder that has stood the test of time, witnessing the slow passage of history. And now, in the name of development, all of it could be reduced to rubble.

The government, however, saw things differently.

A Courtroom Struggle for Conservation

The Vata Foundation ENPO, led by its founding trustee Uday Krishna Peddireddy, along with retired scientist Kalapala Babu Rao, filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) demanding that the area be recognized as a protected ecological zone. Their argument was clear: this land must not fall under the axe of commercial expansion.

Senior advocates S. Niranjan Reddy and L. Ravichandra, representing the petitioners, put forward a compelling case in the Telangana High Court. They cited Supreme Court precedents, stating that forests should be classified based on their ecological features, not on outdated government records.

“The presence of high-rise buildings around the area does not change the fact that this is a forest,” one of the lawyers argued in court. “A tiger does not stop being a tiger just because there is a city nearby. A forest does not stop being a forest simply because it has not been marked as one on a map.”

The petitioners emphasized the illegal nature of the excavation, revealing that deforestation had begun without an expert environmental assessment. Bulldozers—30 to 40 JCBs—had already started clearing trees, violating fundamental environmental protection laws.

The destruction had already begun, and every second mattered.

But the government’s legal team, led by Telangana Advocate General A. Sudarshan Reddy, pushed back, arguing that the land was never classified as a forest. He cited historical records, stating that it had been designated as ‘Kancha land’ during the Nizam era and had previously been allotted for development.

The case was complex, but the High Court, recognizing the environmental urgency, issued an order to temporarily halt all excavation activities until the next hearing.

For environmentalists, it was a small victory. For students, it was a call to arms.

The Students’ Uprising: A Protest Fueled by Passion and Fear

While legal battles were being fought in courtrooms, a far more emotional and visceral resistance was unfolding on the streets of Hyderabad Central University.

The University of Hyderabad Students’ Union (UoHSU), backed by professors and activists, took up the fight with sit-ins, class boycotts, and large-scale protests. The students weren’t just protesting for the land—they were fighting for their home, their sanctuary, their memories.

For students like Ananya Rao, an environmental science major, the issue wasn’t just academic—it was deeply personal.

“I have spent countless evenings near Mushroom Rock, watching the sunset, listening to birds chirping, and feeling connected to something bigger than myself,” she said, wiping away tears. “If this land is gone, a part of me is gone too.”

The protests escalated when members of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), and Left parties attempted to enter the campus. The university gates became the frontline of a tense standoff between students, political groups, and law enforcement.

As police arrived to disperse the protest, several students were detained—some dragged away, others shoved into police vehicles as they screamed for justice. But rather than suppress the movement, these arrests only fueled the fire.

“We are not afraid,” shouted Rahul Das, a history student. “If they take us, ten more will rise. If they cut down one tree, we will plant ten more. We will not let them destroy our home!”

A Larger Crisis: Hyderabad’s Green Future in Peril

The struggle for HCU’s land is not an isolated incident—it is a symbol of a larger war being waged against nature across India.

Hyderabad, once called the ‘City of Lakes’, has already lost several water bodies to commercial encroachment. Rapid urbanization, the cutting of old trees, and the rise of concrete jungles have turned the city into a heat island, making summers unbearable.

If this 400-acre ecosystem is destroyed, the consequences will be disastrous:

• Flooding in the Financial District due to loss of natural water absorption areas.
• Water shortages as lakes dry up.
• A rise in pollution levels as tree cover vanishes.
• Loss of wildlife that will have nowhere else to go.

Hyderabad’s future depends on decisions made today. Will it choose to be a city of sustainability, or will it surrender to unchecked industrial expansion?

What Happens Next? The Fight Continues

For now, the Telangana High Court’s order has put the brakes on the destruction, but the fight is far from over.

Activists are pushing for the land to be declared a national park—a legally protected zone where no commercial activities can take place. The upcoming court hearings will decide the fate of this land, and whether the cries of students, activists, and wildlife lovers will be heard over the noise of bulldozers.

For many, this is not just a battle for trees and lakes.

It is a battle for the soul of Hyderabad.

It is a battle between those who see land as profit and those who see it as life.

And as the sun sets behind Mushroom Rock, casting a golden glow over the untouched wilderness of HCU, a quiet question lingers in the air:

Will tomorrow bring the sound of birdsong, or the relentless march of machines?