BRS urges Supreme Court committee for stringent action against Congress govt in Kancha Gachibowli issue

A BRS delegation led by senior leader and former Minister T Harish Rao met the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and submitted a representation

Hyderabad: Charging the Congress government with brazenly violating a slew of environmental laws and Supreme Court verdicts in the Kacha Gachibowli land issue, the BRS on Thursday submitted a comprehensive report to the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC), seeking immediate action over illegal deforestation and environmental violations in Kancha Gachibowli.

A BRS delegation led by senior leader and former Minister T Harish Rao met the committee, currently touring Hyderabad on Supreme Court orders, at Hotel Taj Krishna. The delegation submitted a detailed 11-page representation backed by nearly 200 pages of documentary evidence, urging the committee to treat the case as a national precedent for the enforcement of the Godavarman judgement and other apex court rulings.

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Speaking at Telangana Bhavan later, Harish Rao said the State government had razed thousands of trees during holidays to evade hurdles from courts, people and civil society, without prior permission from the Forest department and others. “The government is acting with impunity, cutting down thousands of trees on forest lands without seeking any permission,” he said, charging the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) of bulldozing through forest zones under police protection.

He stated that if a farmer cuts down a single tree in his own land, he would be penalised heavily. Revanth Reddy had violated seven different laws and Supreme Court judgements in the Kancha Gachibowli destruction. “But when the Chief Minister orders mass tree felling, the system remains silent. Is the law different for the poor and the powerful?” he asked.

The former Minister said the TGIIC filed questionable applications to the police for protection to carry out tree-cutting operations in Kancha Gachibowli land, without mandatory forest department permissions under the WALTA Act, GO No. 23/2017, and Supreme Court orders. “Taking advantage of the long weekend due to Ugadi, Ramzan festivals and Sunday, 50 bulldozers were sent to clear trees. This is not development; it is daylight destruction,” he said.

Harish Rao also revealed that at least three deer had died due to habitat loss, with wildlife venturing into nearby residential areas. “Salman Khan was jailed for killing a deer. Who will hold Revanth Reddy accountable for the death of three?” he asked, demanding that cases be filed under wildlife protection laws mandating seven years’ imprisonment for such violations.

The delegation cited violations of multiple legal provisions, including TS Godavarman Thirumalpad case (SC, 1996); Ashok Kumar Sharma v. union of India (SC, 2022); Telangana Forest Act, 1967; WALTA Act, 2002; Supreme Court Order (March 4, 2025) mandating the classification of forest-like lands. They said even after the Supreme Court intervened and gave stay orders on taking up any activity on Kancha Gachibowli land, the TGIIC erected ownership boards and installed CCTV cameras.

The BRS MLA also charged the Congress government with financial irregularities, stating that the State mortgaged the same land for a Rs.10,000 crore loan and paid Rs.169.84 crore in brokerage fees. “The broker got rich, the forest got destroyed, and the Chief Minister remains unchecked,” he said.

The BRS demanded that the CEC recommend immediate criminal prosecution of those involved in the environmental violations including the Chief Minister, the Chief Secretary, the TGIIC authorities and other officials involved. The party also sought restoration of the damaged ecosystem through reforestation and wildlife rehabilitation and reinstatement of University of Hyderabad’s (UoH) rights over the land. It urged the committee to submit a report to the Ministry of Environment and Forests as well as coordinate with the Supreme Court for strict action.

Harish Rao also questioned the selective application of law, asking why students protesting the destruction were jailed for over 10 days, while those authorising the destruction continued in power unchallenged. “Thousands of trees have fallen, laws have been trampled, and not even one FIR is filed. This is not just negligence – it is criminal conspiracy,” he asserted, urging the CEC to act decisively to restore the sanctity of the forests, laws, and Constitution.