Centre seeks explanation from Telangana on tree felling
Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav on Thursday said the Centre has issued a notice to the Telangana Government, seeking a factual report and explanation regarding the large-scale felling of trees on a 400-acre land parcel in the Kancha Gachibowli forest area, near the Hyderabad Central University campus.
Speaking during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Yadav condemned the incident. “In Hyderabad, a very unfortunate event has taken place. I fail to understand what kind of enmity the state government has with these trees and green spaces that they would conduct such an operation at night,” he remarked.
Referring to videos showing peacocks and deer being driven out of the land, Yadav accused the Telangana Government of felling more than 400 trees.
The minister was responding to a question by BRS MP Ravichandra Vaddiraju on the steps taken by the Centre to protect green cover from being cleared by the state government.
“We have sent a notice to the Chief Secretary and sought a factual report. We will certainly take action on this matter,” Yadav stated.
The Telangana Government has proposed to develop the 400-acre land adjacent to the university into an IT park. However, the University of Hyderabad Students’ Union has launched a relay hunger strike opposing the plan, arguing that the green patch is home to rich vegetation, rock formations, wildlife and lakes.
Meanwhile, on April 2, the Telangana High Court ordered the state government to immediately halt the clearing of the 400-acre forested land near the university.
