Viral videos on social media show the 'insensitive' razing of a 400-acre forest in Hyderabad. The extreme step by the administration to cut down the Kancha Gachibowli forest has triggered protests, and students of the University of Hyderabad are on the roads against the Revanth Reddy government. Reportedly, the government is demolishing the forest for the development of an IT park in the area.
The Supreme Court on Thursday finally stopped the deforestation and ordered no further felling of trees until its further order. As of now, over 400 trees have been razed. The satellite images from March 28 and April 2 show rapid clearing of forested land in just a few days.
Hyderabad forest: Video captures sound of birds howling
KT Rama Rao shared the video of birds howling in the forest on X and wrote, "This is brazen green murder by destroying 400 acres of precious lung space in western Hyderabad. You can hear the peacocks crying for help as the bulldozers and JCBs of the Congress Govt rummage." However, India TV could not independently verify the authenticity of the video.
Complaint lodged against BRS IT cell
Meanwhile, a complaint was lodged at Gachibowli police station, accusing those linked to the BRS IT cell of using the party's social media handle to conspire, create, post and circulate "misleading" content on various social media platforms.
The complainant alleged that this content was maliciously intended to cause public unrest and provoke the student community and agitating groups to breach public peace by morphing photos and videos related to the university land with unverified information. The complaint further alleged that the edited clips were widely circulated on various social media platforms, leading to a "misrepresentation" carried out by the BRS party members, office bearers and supporters.
Based on the complaint, a case was registered under relevant sections of the BNS against the BRS IT cell incharges and others, and an investigation is underway, police said.
Centre seeks factual report from Telangana
Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav on Thursday said the Centre has sent a notice to the Telangana government seeking a factual report on the cutting of trees on the 400-acre land. Replying during the Question Hour in Rajya Sabha, the minister said, "In Hyderabad, a very unfortunate incident has taken place. I fail to understand what kind of enmity the state government has with those trees and green area that they have to conduct an operation during dark of the night."
"The state government felled more than 400 trees. Wild species like peacock are driven out and you can see that in videos and photos," he said. "We have sent a notice to the chief secretary and we have also sought a factual report. We will certainly take action on this matter," he noted.
SC hearing today
The Supreme Court on Thursday took suo-moto cognisance of the deforestation and ordered no further felling of trees until further orders. A bench of Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih, after perusing the newspaper report about large-scale tree felling at the site, asked the Registrar (Judicial) of the Telangana High Court to forthwith visit the site and submit an interim report by 3.30 pm on Thursday.
