In Hyderabad, despite fierce protests from University of Hyderabad (UoH) students, excavators have continued clearing forested land in Kancha Gachibowli. The clearing, which began late Sunday afternoon with eight excavators, rapidly escalated to 50 machines working through the night into Monday. The land is being prepared for auction by the state government.
As the heavy machinery leveled the terrain, students and environmental activists raised alarms about the destruction of the forested area, home to wildlife such as spotted deer and peacocks. A video of a large group of peacocks in distress went viral, highlighting the negative impact on local fauna. Aerial images from the university show the extent of the land that has already been cleared.
Students have accused the government of encroaching on prime university land, which they believe has been safeguarded for generations. They described the development plans as an “ecological disaster”, pointing out that the bulldozers are pushing deep into university territory, affecting Peacock Lake, Buffalo Lake, and even parts of the university’s new east campus. According to student protesters, this is not merely an encroachment but a “land heist” that could disrupt both the environment and the university’s heritage.
The auction of 400 acres in Kancha Gachibowli has sparked outrage, with concerns over the destruction of flora and fauna and the potential for serious ecological imbalance. Students argue that the loss of this land would also diminish the “lung space” that the city relies on.
Meanwhile, some students who were detained during protests have remained in police custody. One of the detained students, Rohit Bond, reportedly has high blood pressure, which has raised health concerns. Another student, Erram Naveen, was also detained after attempting to retrieve those held at the Madhapur Police Station, with an FIR filed against them.
