Kancha Gachibowli land auction: BJP MPs meet Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

The BJP MPs from the State led by Union Minister G Kishan Reddy met Union Minister for Human Resource Development and sought the Central government's intervention in protecting the 400 acres of land at Kancha Gachibowli and halting the land auction

Hyderabad: The BJP MPs from the State led by Union Minister G Kishan Reddy met Union Minister for Human Resource Development Dharmendra Pradhan and sought the Central government’s intervention in protecting the 400 acres of land at Kancha Gachibowli and halting the land auction.

The TGIIC plans to develop and monetise the land. However, the State government was silent on whether an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been conducted or has any other alternative development strategies that balance urbanisation with conservation have been explored- which was worrisome, they said to the Union Minister in a representation.

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The Telangana government had decided to auction 400 acres land of ecologically sensitive and home to rich biodiversity, unique rock formations and maintain a crucial role in maintaining an environmental balance of Hyderabad, they said.

“We request the Government to immediately explore options to halt the auction process, set up a review committee to study its ecological significance and explore sustainable alternatives,” the BJP MPs appealed.

The area located near the University of Hyderabad is not just a real estate asset; it houses 734 species of plants, 220 species of birds and also vulnerable species like the Star Tortoise. This apart, it contains Peacock Lake and Buffalo Lake, which sustain local biodiversity. Moreover, the iconic Mushroom rock formation is a symbol of geological heritage, they explained.

The University students, faculty and residents strongly opposed this land auction. A large-scale protest was staged at the Mushroom rock formation on March 10 and a petition demanding cancellation of the auction had received over 22,000 signatures, they informed to the Union Minister.