Explained: Kancha Gachibowli Forest Issue; The Tussle Between Telangana Govt. & Environmentalists

India’s urban wilderness is once again under the scanner after the Supreme Court directed the state government of Telangana to suspend work on clearing a 400-acre forest in the heart of Hyderabad on April 3.The ecologically sensitive Kancha Gachibowli forest, located on the premises of the University of Hyderabad, has been auctioned by the Telangana government for real estate development, sparking widespread outrage among environmentalists, students and residents. Concerned citizens rallied against the move, filing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to stop the auction.However, government authorities proceeded with deforestation efforts without conducting an environmental impact assessment, before the Supreme Court ruled to suspend all activities on Wednesday.Here’s what you need to know about the significance of the Kancha Gachibowli forest and the tussle over its ownership.What Is Going On At Kancha Gachibowli?The face-off between students of the University of Hyderabad and the state government began early last month when news reports emerged that the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TGIIC) had been given the green flag to develop and auction the Kancha Gachibowli forest (kancha is the Telugu word for grazing land). Protesters said the project would claim a rare patch of green cover in the city.But after relentless campaigning by students, teachers and civil society members, the Supreme Court took suo moto cognisance of the matter and directed the Chief Secretary of Telangana to ensure that “no tree felling” took place. The court asked the Chief Secretary to file answers on “the compelling urgency to undertake this developmental activity” and whether the state had conducted an environmental impact assessment. It added that no activity is permitted besides the “protection of trees already existing” until further orders. The Supreme Court added that the Chief Secretary would be held liable for any violations.However, the Kancha Gachibowli forest has not been spared the worst of the destruction. By mid-March, earthmovers began digging up the plot, and on March 30, dozens of bulldozers converged on the site. Despite the public outcry and student protests, tree felling continued. An official assessment of the destruction has yet to take place, but a preliminary estimate suggests that over 10,000 trees out of the 17,700 existing trees in the forest have been cut down.History Of The Kancha Gachibowli ForestThe land in question was originally part of the 2,324 acres allotted to the University of Hyderabad when it was established in 1974. In 2004, the 400-acre parcel was allocated to a private party (IMG Academies Pvt Ltd) for the development of a sports academy. After a two-decade-long court battle, the government of Telangana took the land back in 2024. The government then decided to hand it over to Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) for development and auction.A note circulated by multiple Telangana government departments on April 1 stated that investments to the tune of INR 50,000 crore are estimated when the land is fully occupied and operational. It also said that it would provide job opportunities for 5,00,000 people. There are no publicly available reports or data to back this assertion from the government. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has now sought an explanation and called for the enforcement of relevant environmental laws. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the matter on April 16.Importance Of The Kancha Gachibowli ForestThe Kancha Gachibowli forest belongs to the Deccan scrub forest ecosystem—one of India’s most ecologically significant and under-protected landscapes. Save City Forest, a collective of citizens, nature lovers and university alumni, has been working relentlessly to save Kancha Gachibowli. It has found documentation indicating that this urban jungle is home to over 734 species of flowering plants (ground orchids and wild jasmine), 10 species of mammals (spotted deer, porcupines and wild boar), 15 species of reptiles (monitor lizards, Indian star tortoise and snakes) and 220 species of birds (Indian roller and Oriental skylark).The forest is also one of the only known habitats of the Hyderabad tree trunk spider (Murricia hyderabadensis), a species found nowhere else in the world. Its presence is a quiet reminder of how unique and irreplaceable this landscape really is.Water bodies like Peacock Lake and Buffalo Lake help recharge the groundwater table. Additionally, the land is home to 2.5 billion-year-old rock formations, the most notable of which is Mushroom Rock. Beyond its visual and ecological beauty, this forest performs essential services. The trees here help lower the ambient temperature of surrounding areas, especially during Hyderabad’s sweltering summers. A recent study pointed out that losing such cover could lead to a rise in temperature by as much as 1.4 degrees Celsius locally. In a city already grappling with heat waves, air pollution and groundwater depletion, further environmental loss could prove catastrophic.University students use Kancha Gachibowli as an open-air classroom to conduct field research, biodiversity mapping and birdwatching walks. Schools in the area bring children here to learn about native trees and insects firsthand. Local residents visit it for quiet morning walks, nature photography and community clean-up drives that have helped keep the space thriving.Environmentalists have urged the Supreme Court to declare the site a national park under the Wild Life (Protection) Act of 1972, citing its rich biodiversity of rare plants, birds and animals.(With inputs from multiple news reports)Exploring India’s Best Urban Jungles And Wilderness Areas