Sat Mar 15 17:29:00 UTC 2025: ## Telangana Government Defies Protests, Clears Land for Auction Near Hyderabad
**Hyderabad, March 15, 2025** – Despite widespread protests and petitions, the Telangana government is proceeding with plans to auction 400 acres of land in Kancha Gachibowli, near Hyderabad. Eyewitnesses and satellite imagery confirm that significant portions of vegetation, including a forested area near the iconic Mushroom Rock, have already been cleared using heavy machinery. This clearing began before the auction was even announced, according to Google Earth images comparing 2020 and 2024.
The Save City Forest collective, leading the opposition, alleges that the auction violates the public trust doctrine and threatens the area’s biodiversity and wildlife, comparable to that of the KBR National Park. They cite research showing a 20% reduction in green cover in the surrounding Ranga Reddy district between 2000 and 2020, alongside declining groundwater levels and increasing air pollution. The collective is demanding that the auction be halted, tree felling cease, and the area be declared a protected zone. A biodiversity impact assessment is also being requested.
A government statement, lacking official attribution, refuted claims that the land belongs to the University of Hyderabad, stating that it is government land cleared by the university for survey work. It further claimed that the auction plan preserves existing rock formations, including the Mushroom Rock, and that a detailed Environment Management Plan is underway. However, this statement failed to address concerns about the environmental impact of the clearing.
The Save City Forest collective maintains that their opposition isn’t about land ownership but rather the environmental consequences of the auction, warning of a looming water crisis, poor air quality, and rising temperatures if the destruction continues. They have appealed to both the government and the University of Hyderabad to protect the area’s natural resources.
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