Kancha Gachibowli row: Civil Society organisations, intellectuals slams Telangana government not assessing environmental impact

They demanded immediate halt on the ongoing activity and revoke the decision to auction on the land that is rich in biodiversity

Hyderabad: Highlighting violations of various environmental laws, including not assessing environmental impact and Walta Act, the Civil Society organisations and intellectuals slammed the Telangana Congress government for its onslaught on the Kancha Gachibowli Forest (KGF) when the matter was sub judice.

Civil Society organisations and intellectuals, including University of Hyderabad (UoH) former faculty Prof G Haragopal and Prof D Narasimha Reddy, on Tuesday demanded the State government immediately halt the ongoing activity in the KGF and revoke the decision to auction on the land that is rich in biodiversity.

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Stating that there was no dispute regarding the land, Prof Haragopal expressed his concerns about the environmental impact due to destruction that had been initiated by the State government.

Sharing details of the meeting held with Ministers – Bhatti Vikramarka, D Sridhar Babu and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, and forest department officials – Prof Haragopal said despite repeated appeals to the Ministers to save and protect the natural ecosystem, the Ministers presser talks about the 400 acres land development.

“Is this a single generation? There is a need to save and protect nature, and animals for the future generation. The government should have long-term outcomes,” he demanded.

UoH former professor of economics D Narasimha Reddy said though the government says that not an inch of university land was touched, the land it touched was being destroyed. “It is not about the land but the environment. Our concern is about the environment and ecosystem. The government cannot disturb the biodiversity rich land,” he said.

National Alliance of People’s Movement one of the national conveners Vissa Kiran Kumar highlighted how the State government violated Walta Act, environmental assessment and past Supreme Court orders on the forest land by unilaterally deciding to take down a large number of trees.

Ecologist Arun Vasireddy said it was laughable to hear from the forest department officials that there was wildlife in KGF. The forest has rich biodiversity of 230 species and the forest is self-sufficient without requirement of any human interventions, he added.