Verdant expanse of Kancha Gachibowli, together with its hundreds of floral and faunal species will be history if the government goes ahead with its plan of auction of 400 acres of land.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
An idyllic space, with rich biodiversity vouched by presence of hundreds of floral and faunal species, is all set to be converted into thousands of crores of rupees worth real estate, once the government’s plans to auction the 400 acres of land in Kancha Gachibowli manifest into action.
Water bodies in Kancha Gachibowli are home to several species of water fowl, and migratory birds.
| Photo Credit:
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Nature-lovers and wildlife enthusiasts, particularly those who had studied or are studying in the University of Hyderabad (UoH), are aghast at the recent announcement by TGIIC for invitation of bids for selection of consultant towards preparation of master plan and auction of the land on survey number 25 (P), which had been unofficially part of the university.
“We had waged bitter battles for protection of wildlife on the campus, which flourished around the iconic Mushroom Rock on the said land parcel. All our efforts will be down the drain with this auction, which is nothing but a big blow to the biodiversity at the location,” says Ravi Kumar Jillapalli, an alumnus of the UoH who is now a faculty in the Texas State University.
He, together with other enthusiasts, had founded Wild Lens, a conservation and wildlife photography group that worked for protection of the natural environs.
While the university had been established in 1974 on land of 2,324 acres, there has not been any transfer of land, and a clause that land not used for academic purpose could be resumed by the State government if need be, prevented any title.
“Successive governments have chipped the land away for various purposes such as IIIT, Gachibowli Stadium, HCU bus depot, a power station, a school and even a shooting range. And part of it is occupied by TNGOs too,” said Mr. Jilapalli. There had been several instances when incidents of poaching were reported by students.
HC verdict
The university had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the State government for transfer of 534 acres for allotment to a private entity for development of sports facilities way back in 2004. However, the proposal did not get through, after which the land was sought to be repossessed by the government. This was challenged in the court and after a long drawn legal battle, the Telangana High Court ruled in favour of the government last year. The 400 acres sought to be developed are part of this land.
A bulletin from the UoH mentions that the campus is home to over 734 flowering plants, 10 species of mammals, 15 species of reptiles and 220 species of birds. Two lakes– Peacock lake and Buffalo Lake– together with three ponds and rocky area, provide the perfect location for all kinds of life to flourish.
“I would spot at least a hundred peacocks in the area during my morning walks. At least 300-400 spotted deer thrive in the area. Wild boar too are in great numbers,” recalled Karthik Jirra, another Wild Lens member presently continuing research in the university. He and Mr.Jillapally also listed spotted deer, monitor lizard, python, porcupine, star tortoise, rabbits, eagle owls, spotted owls, Indian pitta, and many other species. Pictures were taken of the four horned antelope too, which is a schedule-I protected species.
“There were water and migratory birds as well such as flamingos, pelicans, starks, ibis, cormorants, and herons, among others. Verditer flycatcher, a rare migratory bird from the Himalayas, too, was spotted here,” Mr. Jillapalli reminisced.
An effort is under way by the nature lovers of the city to organise under the umbrella of ‘Save City Forest’ and represent to the government not to go ahead with the auction.
“Kancha Gachibowli’s green cover serves as a natural climate regulator for Hyderabad. The forest functions as a green lung space, reducing urban heat island effects and cooling the surrounding areas. With Hyderabad experiencing increasingly harsh summers, the destruction of this forest will worsen local climate conditions and increase air pollution levels,” a statement prepared by the collective read.
Published – March 09, 2025 08:51 pm IST
