Telangana High Court Suspends Construction Near Hyderabad University
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Synopsis
The Telangana High Court has ordered a halt to construction on 400 acres near Hyderabad Central University following public interest litigations. The case highlights environmental concerns and adherence to Supreme Court guidelines regarding wildlife habitats.
Key Takeaways
- Telangana High Court intervened to protect local ecology.
- Construction on 400 acres has been suspended until further notice.
- Petitioners are advocating for wildlife protection and adherence to Supreme Court directives.
- Environmental NGO Vata Foundation is pushing for national park status.
- Students protested against tree removal for development.
Hyderabad, April 2 (NationPress) The Telangana High Court mandated a suspension of construction activities on 400 acres in Kancha Gachibowli, adjacent to Hyderabad Central University (HCU), until Thursday.
This interim ruling was issued while the court reviewed Public Interest Litigations presented by HCU students and the Vata Foundation.
The court addressed the PILs on Wednesday and postponed further discussion until Thursday, instructing the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) to cease all operations.
Legal representatives for the petitioners requested a work suspension, asserting that the TGIIC was utilizing multiple bulldozers to cut down trees.
The petitioners informed the court that a Government Order was issued last June, granting 400 acres of governmental land to the TGIIC. They argued that despite the land's governmental status, the relevant authorities must adhere to Supreme Court directives. It was indicated that heavy machinery was being deployed to uproot vegetation and flatten the terrain.
The petitioners contended that, according to Supreme Court rulings, an expert committee should be appointed to oversee tree removal from forested land. They noted that if wildlife habitats are to be disturbed, an expert team must conduct a thorough study of the area over a month.
They highlighted that the land contains three lakes, numerous rock formations, and a variety of animal and bird species that require safeguarding. The court was informed that authorities were disregarding Supreme Court guidelines, resulting in heightened tensions in the area.
On behalf of the state government, Advocate General Sudershan Reddy explained that the land had been allocated to the IMG Academy in 2004, but due to non-utilization according to the terms, the previous government rescinded the allotment.
The Advocate General contended that this is not forest land, citing the presence of high-rise structures on HCU property nearby, which also includes four helipads. He argued that various locations in Hyderabad host snakes, peacocks, and trees, and if the petitioners' claims are valid, those areas should also be classified as forests.
Following arguments from both parties, the division bench of the High Court, led by Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul, ordered a halt to ongoing works until Thursday.
The Vata Foundation, an environmental conservation NGO, requested that the land be designated with deemed forest status and called for its designation as a national park under Section 35 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
The petitioners' legal counsel argued that the HCU campus embodies the characteristics of biodiversity hotspots and is ecologically sensitive, as recognized by the Supreme Court in the Godavarman case for conferring deemed forest status.
Recently, university students staged protests after the TGIIC commenced tree and rock removal operations on the land for IT park development.
