New Delhi: The Supreme Court has taken serious note of felling of trees by the Telangana government at Kancha Gachibowli, close to the University of Hyderabad campus. Warning officials that it may consider setting-up a ‘temporary prison’ on the cleared portion of the land for them to ‘enjoy’, the bench of Justice B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih maintained that the Court would go out of the way to protect the environment and ecology.
Ordering a blanket status quo on tree-felling in the 400-acre land, the bench observed: “Maybe we will widen it. Let there be green lungs in the city like in Mumbai’s Sanjay Gandhi National Park etc. We will go all out of the way for the protection of the environment and ecology. In the meantime, not a single tree should be felled there.”
It also asked the State to examine how wildlife in the area can be protected. “The State has to see immediately how the wild animals can be protected and let the state wildlife warden supervise this,” the Court added.
“In the meantime, we direct the wildlife warden of the state of Telangana to examine and take immediate steps needed to protect the wildlife affected due to deforestation in 100 acres,” the Court further ordered.
The bench noted that it was appalled on seeing images of small herbivores like deer and birds like peacocks rushing out of the forest and being bitten by stray dogs. The state proposes to auction the land through the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) to develop IT infrastructure.
Those opposing the move, including students of the University, have argued that the area in question is an eco-sensitive zone which serves as the ‘lungs’ of Hyderabad city. During an earlier hearing, the Court had directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to visit the spot and prepare a report. The report was placed before the Court on Wednesday and the bench directed the state to follow its recommendations. The bench granted the state four weeks to respond.
