HCU campus tension:
HCU Campus Tension: Hyderabad Central University (HCU) is witnessing intense student protests. The university campus has turned into a tense zone as students raise their voices against the Telangana government’s decision to sell university land to private companies. The students demand an immediate halt to this move.Here are the main reasons.
1.Police Action Against Students
To control the protests, the police have been deployed in large numbers. Several students were arrested while protesting peacefully. The students alleged that the police used force, including lathi charges to disperse them.
2. Environmental Concerns
The students are against the government’s move to cut down trees within the university premises. They argue that the land is home to various plant species, wildlife and unique rock formations which need protection.
3.Political Reactions
The Telangana unit of the Student Federation of India (SFI) has condemned the arrests. They demanded the immediate release of detained students. The protesters also expressed anger over Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s comments in the state assembly regarding the issue.
4.Government’s Stand on Land Sale
The Telangana government has several reasons for selling HCU land. The primary motive is to generate revenue for the state. The government believes that selling this land can bring in huge funds.
5.High Market Value of Land
The university’s land, located near Hyderabad’s IT corridor has significant market value. The government plans to develop the land and sell it to IT companies to boost the sector’s growth.
6. Ongoing Dispute Over HCU Land
The land dispute surrounding HCU has been ongoing for years. The government sees the sale as a solution to these long-standing issues.
7. Unused Land Argument
There is an argument that HCU is not utilizing a large portion of its land for development. The government has decided to sell off the excess land instead of leaving it unused.
8. History of HCU and Its Land
HCU was established in 1974 and it initially had 2,300 acres of land.As per University Grants Commission (UGC) records, the current land area is only 1,800 acres.
9. HCU Campus Tension
Also, there are 400 acres of excess land which the government plans to auction.
10.Estimated Revenue from Land Sale
According to market estimates, selling these 400 acres could generate ₹10,000 crore for the government. This has led to strong opposition from students and university staff who demand that the land be preserved for academic and research purposes.
