KTR vows to reclaim Kancha Gachibowli lands, transform it into India’s largest eco-park
"This is our promise to the people of Hyderabad and the students of the University of Hyderabad. You will hear only peacocks sing and see trees thrive,"
Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) has declared that once his party returned to power, the 400-acre Kancha Gachibowli land will be transformed into the country’s largest eco-park, permanently shielding it from commercial exploitation. Amid the Congress government‘s plans to auction these lands, he warned prospective buyers that any investment in these lands would be futile.
“This is our promise to the people of Hyderabad and the students of the University of Hyderabad. You will hear only peacocks sing and see trees thrive,” he asserted.
Stating that the BRS kept away from visiting the protesting students to avoid political hue, he said time has come for the BRS to get into action. He warned that if the Congress government does not back down, the BRS will march to the University of Hyderabad along with the people of Hyderabad. “This is not a political fight. This is a fight for future generations,” he declared.
Condemning the unabated destruction of greenary at a press conference here on Thursday, Rama Rao said the Congress government is acting with a “real estate mindset” and auctioning Hyderabad’s green spaces for monetary gains. He also issued a strong warning to real estate firms, urging them not to participate in the auction. “If you invest, you will regret it later. Do not blame us—we are making it clear now,” he said.
Dismissing the Congress government’s claim that the land belongs to it but not the University of Hyderabad (UoH), the BRS working president maintained that the land is Hyderabad’s rightful green space. “We are not against economic progress, but at what cost? The Chief Minister is acting like a real estate broker, ignoring public opposition,” he said.
He also highlighted that during the BRS regime, the government had withdrawn plans for infrastructure development around KBR Park under the Strategic Road Development Plan (SRDP) after public protests, even after finalising tenders. “A democratic government listens to the people. This Congress government, on the other hand, is bulldozing public opinion, literally and figuratively,” he remarked.
The BRS has already taken multiple steps to oppose the Congress government’s actions on various platforms. Rama Rao revealed that his party has raised the issue in the Rajya Sabha, arranged a meeting for UoH students with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and extended legal support to students, environmentalists, and NGOs.
Criticising the Congress government’s handling of student protests, he accused it of using brute force against demonstrators. He drew a contrast between Rahul Gandhi’s past secured visit to UoH demanding justice for Rohith Vemula and the current government’s suppression of students fighting to save Hyderabad’s greenery.
“Rahul Gandhi lectures about democracy, but his party’s government is lathi-charging students fighting to save Hyderabad’s greenery. He promised UoH students that he would always stand by them, but where is he now? He has become a ‘Laapata Leader,’” he said.
The BRS leader also slammed the Congress government’s “weekend destruction strategy,” which saw trees being felled over a long weekend when courts were closed. “If this land is truly government property, why did they occupy it overnight? Why were trees razed without waiting for the High Court’s response?” he questioned.
Defending the students of UoH, he emphasised that they have no personal stake in this fight but are standing up for Hyderabad’s future generations. “They love this city more than the Chief Minister does,” he remarked.
Rama Rao trained his guns at Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy who boasts about working 18 hours a day, to think like a human for just 10 minutes with a conscience. He also pointed out the Congress’ selective approach to urban development, noting that while the BRS government had spent years securing approvals for Pharma City, the Congress government scrapped it without explanation, yet was eager to destroy Kancha Gachibowli’s green cover. “West Hyderabad has no other major lung space. Why are local elected representatives silent?” he asked.
