■   Govt stands firm on utilizing 400 acres in Kancha Gachibowli for public purposes despite opposition

■  1,500+ acres to be legally transferred to UoH, resolving a long-standing demand

■  High-level discussions held between ministers, civil society, and UoH faculty to address concerns

■  Environmental concerns acknowledged, with promises to protect rock formations and biodiversity

■  Congress slams BRS-BJP understanding to use this issue for political mileage

 metro india news  I hyderabad

In a high-level meeting between the Chief Minister, A Revanth Reddy and a few key ministers on Tuesday morning resolved to go ahead with the decision to utilize the land for public purposes. The government maintains that the development will generate employment and attract investments beneficial to the state’s youth.

Amid mounting controversy over the 400-acre Kancha Gachibowli land auction and the large-scale clearing of trees using multiple JCBs, the Congress government is engaging with environmentalists and stakeholders to address their concerns.

Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka, Industries Minister D. Sridhar Babu—both alumni of the University of Hyderabad (UoH)—and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy convened discussions with members of Civil Society, environmentalists, and UoH faculty. Prominent activists, including Prof. Haragopal and Kiran Vissa, participated in the two-hour-long dialogue, with MLC Prof. Kodandaram joining midway.

During the discussions, Civil Society representatives put forth several demands. They urged the government to immediately halt tree felling, withdraw police forces and JCBs from the site, and refrain from suppressing university students protesting the move. While acknowledging the government’s legal ownership of the land, they emphasized its long-standing association with the university and its ecological significance. They called on the government to preserve the area’s green cover and biodiversity and to reconsider its auction plans for the public property. In response, the ministers assured them that their concerns would be conveyed to the Chief Minister for further consideration.

Sridhar Babu & I have a personal bond with UoH: Bhatti

He emphasized his and colleague Minister Sridhar Babu’s personal bonding with Hyderabad Central University and stressed on the government's unwavering support for its development. "Our government has not encroached upon a single inch of Hyderabad Central University’s land. The 400 acres in Survey No. 25 of Kancha Gachibowli does not belong to the university but was previously allocated to a private entity. We fought in court to reclaim this valuable land and ensure it benefits the people," Bhatti stated.

The state government remains committed to ecological preservation, with special provisions in the development plan to protect natural rock formations. Bhatti urged the public to see through misleading political propaganda and support the government’s efforts to transform Hyderabad into a hub of growth while safeguarding its natural and academic heritage.

Govt to grant Legal Ownership of 1500+ acres to varsity: Sridhar Babu

Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu has announced that the State government has taken a decisive step to grant legal ownership of over 1,500 acres of land to the university, addressing a long-standing demand of students and faculty. He criticized the previous BRS government for neglecting the issue and accused opposition parties of misleading the public for political gains.

"Until now, the university had no legal ownership over even a single acre. Despite repeated requests, the previous government ignored this critical concern," Sridhar Babu rued. He revealed that the State government recently held discussions with the university’s Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, leading to the decision to complete revenue and legal formalities to transfer the land to the university’s name in the coming days. "This step ensures rightful ownership and will support the university’s growth," he stressed.

Sridhar Babu emphasized that the land, retrieved from private control, has been handed over to TGIIC to generate wealth and create employment opportunities for the state’s youth. He highlighted that past governments failed to reclaim the land, leaving it at risk of exploitation.

Addressing environmental concerns, Sridhar Babu refuted allegations of destruction of natural rock formations and water bodies. "Such claims are entirely false. We have a clear action plan to safeguard these natural features and will ensure that students continue to have access to them in the future," he assured.

Fevicol bond between BRS and BJP exposed: Ponguleti

Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy has criticized the renewed alliance between BRS and BJP, calling it a "Fevicol bond" that became evident once again in the University of Hyderabad land issue. He highlighted Congress's deep-rooted connection with the university, noting that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi initially allocated land for it, and former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy took steps to reclaim portions that were illegally transferred to private entities.

According to Ponguleti, the previous BRS government deliberately weakened the legal case, but the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government has made significant efforts to secure a favourable verdict for the state in the Supreme Court. He also revealed that two university alumni—Bhatti Vikramarka and Sridhar Babu, both now cabinet ministers—strongly advocated during a meeting with the Chief Minister to address environmental concerns and positively consider the demands of stakeholders.