Mon Apr 07 03:00:00 UTC 2025: **Supreme Court Hearing Challenges Auction of Biodiverse Hyderabad Land**
HYDERABAD, April 7, 2025 – The Supreme Court of India is hearing a case challenging the auction of a 400-acre land parcel within the University of Hyderabad campus, known as Kancha Gachibowli. The land, rich in biodiversity and home to endangered species, including the unique Murricia hyderabadensis spider, is the subject of three Public Interest Litigations (PILs) already filed in the Telangana High Court.
Students and environmentalists claim the land, part of a larger parcel granted to the university in 1974, is university property, a claim denied by the Telangana government. The land’s history is complex, involving multiple transfers and legal battles dating back to 2004 under the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government. Despite an initial agreement, the land transfer was ultimately canceled after the Congress party won the subsequent election. The Supreme Court’s recent decision, however, has allowed the current Congress government, led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, to proceed with the auction.
The auction is intended to raise funds for welfare measures, given the state’s significant debt. However, critics cite the lack of necessary environmental permissions and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as violations of environmental regulations. The area’s biodiversity, including 233 bird species (more than KBR and Mrugavani National Parks) and numerous protected species, is jeopardized by the proposed development. The controversy highlights the ongoing tension between development and environmental protection, as well as the legacy of land-use disputes stemming from past government actions.
First Piper 