- By Nidhi Giri
- Wed, 16 Apr 2025 12:33 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed concerns over clearing a large tree cover in Kancha Gachibowli area next to the University of Hyderabad in Telangana. The court asked the wildlife warden of the state to ensure immediate steps that need to be taken to protect the wildlife affected due to deforestation. The apex court stated that prior permissions should have been taken if the Telangana government wanted some construction over the land, warning against any further tree felling in the area. This comes amid political row, as PM Modi, at a public meeting in Haryana on Monday, accused the Congress-led state government of destroying forests with bulldozers
Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih, hearing the suo motu case in connection with the tree felling, said, “We are only concerned about how so many trees were cut without permission of authorities."
“If you want Chief Secretary to be saved from severe action, you have to come out with a plan as to how you would restore those hundred acres," Justice Gavai said, in response to senior advocate AM Singhvi, who told the court that the felling of trees and the construction work in Telangana had been stopped.
“We will not go by interpretation of bureaucrats or ministers. We are surprised to see herbivorous animals in videos, they are running to seek shelter, bitten by stray dogs," Justice Gavai said.
“Even private forests require the court’s permission to fell trees," he remarked.
“We are concerned with the damage done to the environment. Any enactment which falls foul of this court’s 1996 order will not be tolerated," Justice Gavai said.
“We are only concerned with the presence of bulldozers and erasing of the forest of 100 acres. If you wanted to construct, you should have taken permission," he added.
“In the meantime, we direct the Wildlife Warden of Telangana to examine and put into effect immediate steps required to protect wildlife affected on account of deforestation in 100 acres," the court said.
“If you try to oppose restoration, then temporary prison for your officers. In the meantime, not a single tree will fall there. Have the bulldozers been removed?" it asked.
The Telangana government has maintained that the land in question is not officially designated as forest land but rather classified as revenue land. As per repports, the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) asserts ownership of the land, claiming it was allocated for industrial development. Meanwhile, the University of Hyderabad has contradicted this, stating that the disputed land falls within its boundary.
The land dispute remains unresolved, with TGIIC stating that ownership was legally established in court, warning that any claims against it would constitute contempt. However, students and activists continue to push for the preservation of the area, arguing that the deforestation has caused irreparable damage to the ecosystem.