1. The Telangana government asserts that it legally owns the 400-acre land and conducted a survey in July 2024
2. The University of Hyderabad denies any official survey and insists on preserving the land’s ecology
3. Students, environmentalists, and opposition parties oppose the land auction, citing green space concerns

Kodandaram ready to mediate

Meanwhile, MLC Prof Kodandaram, who was the first president of Students Union in University of Hyderabad in 1980 had volunteered his name to speak to the government on this fresh issue hogging headlines in Telangana at present. “Although the government has the legal rights, the “usufructuary rights” are with the university by virtue of using the land that was handed over to it by former PM Indira Gandhi in the early 1970s as per the six-point formula. The government should take the university into confidence and hold discussions to clear the air. Also, it is the moral responsibility of the government to protect the ecological balance and biodiversity of the area. I am ready to do my bit to reach out to the government to find a solution,” Kodandaram said.

The great wall of Gachibowli

When Dr. Gurbaksh Singh became the Vice Chancellor of the University of Hyderabad in 1974 and took possession of 2300 acres of land for the campus in Gachibowli, the first thing he did was to construct a compound wall around the university campus. For this visionary act of Dr Gurbaksh Singh, he was criticised, and the student and employee leaders came up with a pamphlet which talked about “The great Wall of Gachibowli. The students and staff then criticized Dr Singh for wasting University funds to construct a compound wall instead of spending the same money on constructing buildings, classrooms and labs. But later, the students and staff regretted their opposition and realised the visionary approach of Dr Singh. Dr Singh was the founding Vice Chancellor of the university, which was established in 1974, and served in this role until 1979. He later becamethe  VC of Delhi University.

The Congress government in Telangana is embroiled in a heated controversy over the 400-acre Kancha Gachibowli land auction decision with strong opposition coming from the varsity students, green activists, and environmentalists alike, who are crying ‘green murder’ and are opposing the land parcel which is a public land be handed over to private firms.

The fervent opposition to government’s plans to cede this land to private developers, stems from the fear that it could pave the way for yet another concrete jungle. The opposition parties including the BRS, BJP and CPI (Marxist) are alongside concerned citizens.

The Telangana state government recently announced plans to auction the 400-acre Kancha Gachibowli land, inviting global investors to contribute to the state’s economic growth. The administration highlights the opportunity for major IT companies and multinational corporations to establish or expand their presence in Hyderabad.

However, environmentalists and urban planners have raised concerns. They say that the huge land lends itself as a lung space and is endowed with flora and fauna. Within a 5-kilometer radius of Gachibowli lies Hyderabad’s thriving IT hub, home to approximately 1,500 IT/ITES firms and nearly 9 lakh employees. Critics argue that converting this green space into yet another commercial zone could disrupt the ecological balance and negatively affect the health and well-being of the workforce and residents in the area.

Many question why the government is not utilizing the vast stretches of vacant land available in the Future City, located on the outskirts of Hyderabad, for such large-scale projects. Advocates for environmental conservation believe this alternative would better accommodate international investors without compromising the region’s biodiversity and green cover.

Even as these arguments do the rounds in different media, the Telangana government stated on Monday that the ownership rights of the 400 acres of the Gachibowli land wrestle with it, and the University of Hyderabad has no possession of the said land. It further cautioned that disputes, if any, created on land ownership will be a contempt of the court.

The State government proved legally the ownership of land in the court and acquired the property, which was allotted to a private company 21 years ago, through a legal battle, it was mentioned in a statement issued by the government on Monday, following the students' protests and arrests a day earlier amidst condemnation from various quarters.

It further stated that the development of works and the auction of the land will not affect the ecosystem, including rocks. Moreover, no lake exists in the land allotted for development.

It was mentioned that then government in the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh allotted the land to a private company in 2004 and however, the current Congress government acquired the ownership of the land by legally winning the case in the Supreme Court. 

"A survey report disclosed that the University of Hyderabad (Central University) did not own even a single inch of land," the statement said.

"The State government, led by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, is giving top priority to the sustainable development of the local area and conservation of the environment in every plan. However, some political leaders and realty groups are opposing the project and misleading the students for their vested interests," it was stressed in the press note.

Govt vs University of Hyderabad: Contradictory stands on Land survey

While the government asserts that revenue authorities conducted a land survey in July 2024 with university officials present, the University of Hyderabad has categorically denied any such participation.

Government’s stand:

The Telangana government asserts that the 400-acre land, resumed from IMG Academies Bharata Pvt. Ltd. in 2006, was legally taken into possession following a Supreme Court ruling in May 2024. It claims that a survey was conducted on July 19, 2024, with the participation of university officials, including the Registrar, University Engineer, and Revenue authorities, and that boundaries were finalized on the same day. The government dismisses claims that the land is a forest area with significant wildlife, stating that official revenue records classify it as government property. It also emphasizes that the land was allocated to TGIIC for IT and developmental projects as per government orders issued in June 2024. Furthermore, it clarifies that Buffalo Lake and Peacock Lake are not within the 400-acre land designated for development

University of Hyderabad’s stand

Meanwhile, the University of Hyderabad maintains that no official survey was conducted by revenue authorities in July 2024 to demarcate the 400 acres of land. It asserts that only a preliminary inspection of the land’s topography took place and denies any agreement with the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) regarding land demarcation. The university emphasizes that any transfer of its land requires formal approval from its Executive Council, which includes nominees appointed by the President of India. Additionally, UoH has urged the state government to preserve the environment and biodiversity of the area. The administration has also called on the media and stakeholders to avoid spreading misinformation regarding the issue.

With both parties presenting conflicting narratives, the land issue remains unresolved. The University of Hyderabad continues to seek government intervention to reconsider land allocations, while the state government asserts its legal right over the land. The matter is expected to escalate as students and faculty voice concerns over environmental impact and land ownership.

Students seek Civil Society's help

The University of Hyderabad's Students' Union (2024-25) has called on the university community and civil society to stand in solidarity with the students in protecting the 400 acres of Kancha Gachibowli land.

It condemned police brutality and the unlawful detention of students protesting against land encroachment on campus on Ugadi day, when the government pressed into service JCBs to clear the bushes and level the land. The Students' Union, along with concerned students and the Joint Action Committee, organized a peaceful rally to highlight illegal land grabbing.

The Students' Union criticized the university administration's inaction and accused it of colluding with police and security forces to suppress student voices. They demand the immediate release of two more students who were yet in police custody, while 50 others who were detained while protesting near the site were released late at night on Sunday.