Clashes erupted between Hyderabad Central University (HCU), also known as University Of Hyderabad (UoH), students and police following the entry of bulldozers into a contested 400-acre forested area. The Telangana Congress government reportedly plans to auction the land to private IT companies, drawing criticism from students and the opposition Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi (BRS).
400 Acres Of Land In University Of Hyderabad Deforested
The dispute centres on land in Kancha Gachibowli, claimed by both the state government and the university. Following Sunday’s arrests of 52 students who obstructed bulldozer operations, authorities deployed dozens of heavy machinery to flatten the ground.
Students had previously burnt an effigy of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy in protest. This controversy has roots dating back two decades. In 2022, the Telangana High Court ruled that without a deed of conveyance, the government retained ownership of the land — a decision later upheld by the Supreme Court.
However, fresh legal challenges emerged when the NGO Vata Foundation filed a petition seeking “deemed forest” status for the area, citing its ecological importance. This case is scheduled for a hearing on April 7, 2025.
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Mushroom Rock, Buffalo Lake And Other Casualties
Students launched a social media campaign using the hashtag “oxygen not auction”, highlighting the land’s biodiversity — including four lakes, mushroom rock formations, and protected wildlife species such as Indian rock python, four-horned antelope and eagle owls.
The Chief Minister’s office clarified that the 400 acres legally belong to the government, warning that any dispute over ownership would constitute contempt of court. According to officials, the land was originally allotted to IMG Academies in 2004 for sports facilities, but the allotment was cancelled in 2006.
After legal proceedings concluded in March last year, the government transferred rights to the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation for IT development. The university administration disputes the government’s claim that joint surveys were conducted, stating that no demarcation has been agreed upon.
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The student union has vowed to intensify their struggle, while the BRS opposition party has extended support, criticising the Congress government for “brutalising students and wrecking the environment” while pursuing development at ecological expense.
Cover Image Credits: @indiaculturalhub/Instagram and @AskAnshul/X (Formerly, Twitter)
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