Amid row, HC halts work on land near Hyderabad varsity

The Telangana high court on Wednesday put a temporary stop to excavation and tree-felling activities on 400 acres of land in Kancha Gachibowli, near the University of Hyderabad campus, following multiple petitions challenging the large-scale clearing of green cover in the area.

- Ayesha Arvind

BENGALURU: The development comes amid mounting protests from students and environmental activists, who argue that the land is a crucial ecological habitat.

Meanwhile, the Union environment ministry wrote to the Congress-led Telangana government, seeking a factual report on the state's "illegal clearing of vegetation on 400 acres of forest land" at Kancha Gachibowli. It also directed the additional chief secretary (forests), Telangana, to take legal action under forest and wildlife laws as applicable.

A division bench comprising acting chief justice Sujoy Paul and justice Renuka Yara issued an interim order staying all land-clearing activities until further hearings on Thursday.