Why in news
Students at the University of Hyderabad at Gachibowli have been protesting the auction of 400 acres of land within the campus known as Kancha Gachibowli.
The issue has reached the Supreme Court, which has acknowledged environmental concerns before taking it up suo motu.
Three Public Interest Litigations (PILs) have been filed in the Telangana High Court against the land auction.
Why Were There Protests?
Students claim the land belongs to the university, while the government denies this.
The land was part of the 2,324 acres granted in 1974 under the Telangana six-point formula but wasn’t formally titled.
Over 800 acres have been taken by the government since 2010 for various projects.
What Do Documents Say?
In 2004, the TDP government signed an MoU to transfer 534 acres in exchange for 396 acres elsewhere.
This land was later sold to IMG Academies Bharata for sports development.
After the Congress won the 2009 elections, the land transfer was canceled, leading to legal battles.
The Supreme Court’s dismissal of the Special Leave Petition allowed the current government to proceed with the auction.
What Are Environmentalists Saying?
The land, untouched for 20+ years, hosts diverse wildlife, including 233 bird species—more than KBR and Mrugavani National Parks.
It’s home to Murricia hyderabadensis, a unique spider found only there.
27 bird species are listed in Schedule-I of the Wildlife Protection Act, indicating their vulnerability.
The area also has 72 species of diverse trees.
Why Did the Government Decide to Auction?
Land monetization through auctions began under Congress in Andhra Pradesh and continues across parties.
The government faces a debt nearing ₹5 lakh crore and lacks funds for welfare programs.
Auctioning the land is seen as a way to generate revenue amidst financial constraints.
COMMENTS