What’s the Hyderabad university land controversy and why is it political?
A controversy has erupted in Telangana over 400 acres of land near Hyderabad Central University (HCU). The state government plans to clear this land for an IT park, but students and environmental activists are opposing the move. The case has now reached the Telangana High Court, where hearings are set to begin.
The dispute over this land dates back several decades. HCU claims the land is part of the 2,324 acres allotted to it in 1975. However, in 2022, the High Court ruled that there were no legal documents proving the university’s ownership. The Supreme Court upheld this decision, confirming that the land belongs to the government.
Despite this, environmental activists argue that the land is an ecologically significant area. They claim it is home to over 455 species, including peacocks and rare rock formations. The Vata Foundation, an NGO, has petitioned the court to declare the area a national park.
On Tuesday, students filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) to stop the government from allotting the land to the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC). The High Court is hearing both this petition and one filed earlier by the Vata Foundation.
Meanwhile, the government has begun clearing the land. Protesters claim trees are being cut, and rocks are being removed. Students have launched protests, alleging that police are forcefully removing them from the area.
The issue has also sparked a political debate. Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader KT Rama Rao criticized the Congress-led state government calling the move “a crime against Hyderabad’s future” for destroying green space. The government, however, defended its decision stating that the land was originally allotted to a private company in 2004 and later ruled as government property by the Supreme Court.
Hyderabad Central University has rejected the government’s claim that a land survey was conducted. The university is urging authorities to reconsider the environmental impact of the project. Meanwhile, protests continue, with police making multiple arrests.
