Telangana: Forest Department struggles to restore Kancha Gachibowli green cover amid land, fund issues

Restoration of the Kancha Gachibowli forest remains stalled due to land control issues and lack of funding. Despite Supreme Court warnings, the Telangana government has made little progress, with officials planning to submit a restoration draft before the July 23 hearing

Hyderabad: With less than a month remaining for the Supreme Court’s next hearing on the Kancha Gachibowli forest issue, restoration work remains sluggish due to government inaction, funding shortfalls, and land control complications. The Forest Department has reportedly been given limited access to the land, hampering its ability to act decisively.

Despite stern warnings from the apex court on May 15, no significant action has been taken to reverse the ecological damage caused by mass tree felling earlier this year. The Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the destruction and instructed the Telangana government to submit a restoration plan based on recommendations by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC).

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The court also warned the State government of severe consequences, including possible imprisonment of responsible officials, if no concrete steps were taken. The next hearing is scheduled for July 23.

However, with the land now under the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC), the Forest Department’s restoration efforts remain constrained. Though both departments have carried out token plantation drives, large-scale afforestation and protective fencing have yet to begin. Officials concede that real restoration remains largely unaddressed.

“Protection of wildlife remains our immediate concern. With a high population of spotted deer, peacocks, and other species, we’ve initiated conservation measures in coordination with TGIIC, though largely from outside the area. As the matter is under the Supreme Court’s purview, we will act as per its directives,” a senior Forest Department official told Telangana Today.

Funding has emerged as another critical obstacle. With wildlife relocation ruled out, the department is considering in-situ conservation methods such as fencing the degraded zone—measures that demand substantial funds and official clearance, both pending State approval.

Incidentally, the updated Google satellite images exposed the extent of destruction and lost green cover, beside the government’s apathy towards restoration activities. A comparison between November 2024 and April 2025 satellite images is displaying a dense green stretch giving way to barren plots and construction activity.

While the Forest Department has drafted a plan to replant native species, officials stress that its success will depend on long-term maintenance and monitoring. They said a draft restoration plan would be submitted ahead of the Supreme Court’s July 23 hearing, and further action would be taken in accordance with court directives.