PLACES IN NEWS 14th AUGUST 2025

Kancha Gachibowli forest area, Hyderabad

Why in the News?

1. The Telangana government moved to auction and clear about 400 acres of the Kancha Gachibowli forest to make way for an IT park, triggering public outcry and protests by students and environmentalists.
2. The Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance, imposed an immediate stay on all deforestation-related activities, and ordered restoration of the forest.
3. The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) recommended declaring the 400-acre area as forest land under the forest department, noting that approximately 105 acres were illegally cleared, impacted around 1,500+ trees, and should be restored with native species during the rainy season.

About Kancha Gachibowli Forest Area

1. Location & Land Status
   1. Situated adjacent to the university campus in Hyderabad’s expanding Gachibowli District.
   2. The 400-acre parcel was part of the original 2300-acre land allotted to University of Hyderabad in 1974 but legally owned by the state.
   3. Previously allocated to a private firm in 2004, reclaimed by the government in 2024.
   4. Now earmarked for development, though never formally demarcated or notified as forest land.
2. Ecological and Biodiversity Value
   1. Recognized as one of Hyderabad’s last remaining green lungs.
   2. Plays a vital role in climate regulation, groundwater recharge, and flood mitigation.
   3. Biodiverse habitat hosting:
      1. 734+ flowering plant species
      2. Around 220 bird species (including Schedule-I and migratory birds)

• At least 10 mammal species (e.g., spotted deer, porcupine)

1. 15 reptile species (including monitor lizards and Indian star tortoises)

1. Migratory birds found around Peacock Lake, along with reptiles, snakes, and star tortoises.

3. Ecosystem Services & Hydrology
   1. Includes ridges, valleys, rocky outcrops, and water bodies within the Musi river basin.
   2. Acts as a significant water sink and groundwater recharge zone.
   3. Higher groundwater potential compared to surrounding urban areas.
   4. Loss of this forest increases flood risk and impacts local water tables.
4. Legal and Environmental Significance
   1. Not formally notified as forest land but has forest-like characteristics that warrant legal protection.
   2. The Supreme Court has stressed that sustainable development cannot justify overnight clearance of forests.
   3. Calls for balanced development alongside conservation.
5. Community, Advocacy & Proposed Alternatives
   1. Students, faculty, and local communities have protested against clearance.
   2. Seen as a natural classroom and wildlife sanctuary.
   3. State has floated an idea for a 2,000-acre eco-forest park and relocating the university to a smart-city area, though critics warn this may harm ecological integrity.