Kancha Gachibowli land shows forest traits, final call pending: CEC to Supreme Court
Hyderabad: The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), constituted by the Supreme Court of India, has raised serious environmental concerns regarding land in Kancha Gachibowli, Hyderabad. In its interim report submitted to the Registrar of the Supreme Court in connection with Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No. 3 of 2025, the CEC stated that the land appears to possess characteristics of forest land. However, it clarified that a final conclusion would depend on the outcome of a density evaluation currently being carried out by the Forest Survey of India.
The land, part of approximately 2,374 acres recorded as “Kancha Astabal Poramboke Sarkari” and assigned to the University of Hyderabad, has come under scrutiny following allegations of large-scale tree felling and potential violations of environmental and land-use laws. The CEC has recommended that no further interests or transactions in the subject land be allowed until further orders from the Court.
The committee urged the reconstitution of the expert body overseeing the land evaluation to include field forest officers, ecologists, wildlife experts, IT and remote sensing professionals, and survey agencies. It also called for differentiated criteria for identifying forest areas in urban and rural settings, in line with the objectives of the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 2023, to ensure more accurate and context-specific classification.
A major concern raised by the CEC was the conduct of the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC), which it said had selectively applied for Consent for Establishment (CFE) under the Air and Water Pollution Acts, while deliberately avoiding seeking Environmental Clearance (EC) under the EIA Notification of 2006.
The report suggested that the land may have been split into smaller parcels to avoid triggering the EC process. The CEC recommended that the Telangana State Pollution Control Board cancel the CFE granted to TGIIC on January 30, 2025, and that the state government initiate disciplinary proceedings against the responsible officials.
In light of the area’s ecological significance, including the presence of wildlife and sensitive lakes, the CEC urged the Court to consider declaring the entire University of Hyderabad land as an ecologically sensitive zone. It recommended halting all land clearing or development until a full ecological assessment is conducted by an independent body, preferably the Wildlife Institute of India.
The report also alleged that officials from TGIIC, along with the contractor Delta Global Services, falsely declared the tree species present and undertook indiscriminate felling, including both exempted and non-exempted species. The CEC called for strict punitive action, including confiscation of the machinery used.
Ownership of the land was another issue flagged in the report. While it appears that the land belongs to the University of Hyderabad, the CEC noted the existence of a conditional Memorandum of Understanding involving TGIIC and recommended a thorough legal and administrative review to verify the legitimacy of TGIIC’s claims. Until the ownership issue is resolved by the Court, it asked that all attempts to mortgage, lease, or commercially exploit the land be stayed to avoid further legal or financial complications.
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has also been directed to close all sewage outlets flowing into the university campus within twelve months and to establish appropriate sewage treatment plants outside the campus.
Finally, due to the scale of alleged violations and possible financial irregularities, the CEC recommended that an independent agency be appointed to investigate the legality of the environmental clearances, creation of third-party rights, the role of TGIIC officials, and the potential misuse of public land for private benefit.
The committee has sought an additional four weeks to complete its final report, pending the Forest Survey of India’s findings and receipt of documents from state authorities. The interim report has the approval of the CEC Chairman and all its members and has been submitted for the Supreme Court’s consideration.
