Kancha Gachibowli: SC’s 6 Week Deadline To Revanth Reddy Govt

In a landmark judgement, the Supreme Court of India today directed the Revanth Reddy-led Telangana government to restore the green cover that was destroyed in Kancha Gachibowli earlier this year. Nearly 1,000 trees were reportedly destroyed in the disputed land for a proposed IT infrastructure project.

The court further emphasized that development must not be at the cost of the environment and also highlighted the necessity of a balanced approach to economical growth and ecological conservation. The court also asked the state government to submit a revised proposal for the planned IT project and measures to safeguard forests, lakes, and wildlife, ensuring adequate environmental protections, within six weeks.

The SC’s diktat comes after the Telangana Chief Minister’s move to expedite tree cutting in the Kancha Gachibowli area despite intense protests by the University of Hyderabad students and ecological activists across the country. Petitioners who moved the SC alleged that the government’s decision had violated the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification of 2006.

The dispute in the Kancha Gachibowli eco zone began when the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) sought to alienate 400 acres of green land for IT infra projects. In its latest order, the apex court has clarified that it is not opposed to development but insisted that such initiatives must be sustainable and account for compensatory measures like large-scale replanting.