The State government reportedly established before the Empowered Committee on Kancha Gachibowli land that the land belonged to the government and neither it was forest land as claimed by students and some political parties.
Sources said Special Chief Secretary Jayesh Ranjan and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests R.M. Dhobriyal met the empowered committee members and presented a comprehensive choronology of the lands since 2000. Armed with the records of land from the revenue and forest department, the officials mentioned that the said land was never considered forest land.
They went on to point out that several structures such as IIIT-Hyderabad, Indian School of Business, Gachibowli stadium, TNGO’s colony and a private property with proper roads had been constructed on the Government land only. They also maintained that all these areas had lot of greenery.
The officials asserted before the panel that there was need for development by following all the laid down guidelines and rules. They said the structures constructed on the lands so far had obtained permission from PCB and relevant sanctions under WALTA.
The officials presented that in 1975, University of Hyderabad (UoH) was given possession of the entire land in Sy No 25 and other survey numbers at Kancha Gachibowli Village. The then Government entered into an MoU with IMG Academies Bharata Private Limited on August 9, 2003 to hand over 400 acres in Gachibowli and 450 acres in Mamidipalli Village, Balapur mandal, Ranga Reddy district.
As per the MoU, the Government resumed 534.28 acres from UoH and handed over 400 acres to the Sports Authority of Telangana and 134.28 acres to TG NGOs. The then Registrar of UoH handed over the land through the Revenue authorities of Serilingampally on February 3, 2004.
In lieu of it, the government allotted an alternative land to an extent of 397 acres in Sy No 36 (191.36 acres) and Sy No 37 (205.20 acres), which was taken over by the Registrar of UoH on the same day.
As far as the present 400 acres is concerned UoH has clearly relinquished its rights over the land by taking 397 acres in exchange, the officials explained.
With regard to the allocation to IMG Academies Bharata Pvt Ltd, the government issued an ordinance annulling the allotment on November 21, 2006. The IMG Bharata challenged the orders before the High Court and the court passed orders on March 7, 2024 in favour of the government.
Subsequently, IMG filed an SLP before the Supreme Court, which was contested. The SLP was dismissed on May 3, 2024. The TGIIC secured the allotment and it was later alienated for setting up of IT and mixed use project, which was approved by the Council of Ministers on June 21, 2024. The land was the alienated in favour of TGIIC.
Published – April 11, 2025 03:48 am IST
