Supreme Court hearing in the case of felling of trees near Hyderabad University on April 16, government will give reply

The Telangana government will respond to the Supreme Court on the felling of trees in Kancha Gachibowli near Hyderabad University on April 16. In this, the Supreme Court has called for a response from the Telangana government on whether trees need to be cut. It is being communicated that a response from the government will be made in the court on hearing.

According to the cause list of April 16 of the apex court, the case will be heard by a bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih. This matter was raised by amicus curiae and senior advocate K Parameshwara before Hyderabad University. Taking suo motu cognizance of the matter, the court had directed on April 3 that till further orders, no activity of any kind will be done by the state or any authority except the protection of the trees already present there.

Along with this, the bench had expressed concern over the report of the Registrar (Judicial) of the Telangana High Court. The bench had said that the report of the Registrar (Judicial) of the Telangana High Court shows a worrying picture. A large number of trees are being cut and apart from this, large machinery is being deployed, due to which about 100 acres of area has already been destroyed. The report also said that some number of peacocks, deer, and birds were also seen in the area.

The bench said that prima facie it indicates that there was a forest in which wild animals lived. On this, the court directed the Chief Secretary of Telangana to answer several questions, including whether the state has obtained an Environmental Impact Assessment Certificate for such developmental activities there. The bench asked whether the requisite permission was taken from the forest officials or any other local law to cut the trees? The Supreme Court had also asked the Central Empowered Committee to visit the concerned site and submit its report before April 16.

The 400 acres of land from which trees are being cut belongs to the state government and the government has allotted it to Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation. Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation started cutting trees on this land for development from March 30. Hyderabad University students and environmentalists started protesting against this. The protesters say that this is violating the Forest Conservation Act. However, the state government says that this land belongs to it and not the university administration. The government is also denying violation of the law. Protests are going on in Hyderabad University regarding this and the academic session is being lost due to this.