Mon Mar 24 13:45:06 UTC 2025: ## Telangana Government Reconsiders Auction of University Land Amidst Public Outcry
**Hyderabad, March 24, 2025** – The Telangana government is re-evaluating its plan to auction 400 acres of land belonging to the University of Hyderabad (UoH) following significant public opposition. IT and Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu announced the review in the Assembly on Monday, stating the government is committed to protecting the central university’s land.
The proposed auction, spearheaded by the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC), has sparked widespread protests from environmental activists and concerned citizens. They fear the development will destroy two lakes and replace vital green spaces with concrete structures. The “Save City Forests Collective” has spearheaded the campaign against the auction, highlighting the area’s ecological significance as a biodiverse habitat for migratory birds and wildlife.
An online petition on Change.org, launched March 11th, has garnered nearly 5,000 signatures in a matter of hours, urging the cancellation of the auction and emphasizing the potential for severe environmental consequences. Further, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Telangana High Court seeking to designate the 400-acre area as an ecologically sensitive zone. AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi also voiced concerns in the Assembly regarding the strong opposition to the auction. The government’s reassessment comes in response to this considerable public pressure.
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