While claiming the land as its own, Telangana government’s statement stressed that the proposed auction would not harm the environment and was intended to promote industrialisation in the state.
Published Mar 31, 2025 | 4:16 PM ⚊ Updated Mar 31, 2025 | 8:57 PM
Approximate area of the University of Hyderabad
Synopsis: The controversy over the Telangana government’s decision to auction 400 acres of Kancha Gachibowli land intensifies as students at the University of Hyderabad (HCU) protest. Despite Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s assurances, students argue the auction threatens ecology and their campus. Tensions rise with police arrests, while the government defends its legal claim, citing historical land allocations.
The controversy surrounding the state government’s decision to auction 400 acres of Kancha Gachibowli land in Hyderabad continues to escalate, with the ongoing students’ protests at the University of Hyderabad (HCU) showing no signs of abating.
Despite Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s repeated assurances that the land in question does not belong to HCU and that it does not portend any danger to the ecology and environment, students have a different opinion.
On Sunday, 30 March, students staged a day-long sit-in, demanding the release of 14 peers who had been detained earlier during demonstrations. What began as a peaceful protest is now showing signs of turning violent, with police arrests further fuelling tensions on campus.
In response to the growing unrest, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) issued an official statement on Monday, 31 March, outlining the government’s position. The statement stressed that the proposed auction would not harm the environment and was intended to promote industrialisation in the state.
The government, in its statement, gave an elaborate account of its legal claim to the land, detailing its history. According to the statement, in 2004, the then-undivided Andhra Pradesh government allotted the 400-acre parcel in Survey No. 25 of Kancha Gachibowli to IMG Bharata Academies India Pvt Ltd for the development of sports infrastructure. However, in 2006, the government revoked the allotment and transferred the land to the AP Youth Advancement, Tourism, and Culture Department due to its non-utilisation.
Following this, IMG Bharata Academies filed a writ petition (No. 24781/2006) in the High Court. After a prolonged legal battle, the Telangana government secured a favourable verdict on 7 March, 2024. IMG Academies then challenged the ruling in the Supreme Court (SLP No. 9265/2024), but the petition was dismissed on 3 May, 2024, confirming the government’s ownership of the land.
The revenue authorities subsequently certified the land as government property and recommended its protection for future development. The Telangana government, under its new land allotment policy (GO Ms. No. 571, dated September 14, 2022), formally handed over the land to the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) on 24 June, 2024. Serilingampally Revenue officials then physically transferred possession to TGIIC on 1 July, 2024.
On 4 July, 2024, TGIIC formally reached out to the University of Hyderabad Registrar to assist in boundary demarcation. A joint survey conducted by university and revenue officials on 19 July, 2024, confirmed that no part of the 400-acre parcel belonged to the university.
Addressing environmental concerns, the statement clarified that there were no lakes, such as Buffalo Lake or Peacock Lake, within the designated development zone, contrary to some media reports. TGIIC also pledged to preserve mushroom rocks and other natural rock formations as green spaces within the project layout. A comprehensive Environmental Management Plan (EMP) is being prepared to ensure sustainable development.
TGIIC reiterated that no university land or water bodies would be affected by the project. To proceed with the development, the corporation issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) on 28 February, 2025, aiming to optimise land use in accordance with the master plan.
The project is expected to create world-class IT infrastructure, enhance connectivity, and develop urban spaces. However, the statement also accused certain politicians and real estate players of misleading students with false claims to serve their vested interests and obstruct the project.
No survey was conducted in July 2024 by the revenue authorities in the University campus to demarcate the 400 acres of land resumed by the State Government in 2006 from Ms IMG Academies Bharata Pvt. Ltd.
The only action taken thus far has been a preliminary inspection of the land’s topography. The University also denies the statement of the TGIIC in the press recently that it has agreed for such demarcation of the land.
In fact, no demarcation of land has been done nor the University have been informed.
The University of Hyderabad, has been requesting the State Government for alienation of its land. The University will forward the representations of the stakeholders to the State Government to reconsider the points raised and request the State Government to conserve the environment and biodiversity in the area.
Any transfer of land allocated to the University can occur with the formal concurrence of the University’s Executive Council as per Clause (ix) of Statute 13, which comprises six nominees appointed by the President of India, in the capacity of Visitor of the University
Meanwhile, BJP joined the issue. Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar slammed the state government for its adamant stand on auctioning the land. He asked whether Revanth Reddy had any humanity left in him, as evidenced in yanking the students by their hair by police when they were staging a protest.
He wondered whether the state government was not in a position to run the government without auctioning the lands or borrowing. “If this is the way a government should be run, even a leader like KA Paul would do,” he said, referring to the evangelist-turned-politician in Andhra Pradesh.
Sanjay Kumar wanted to know what the Education Commission was doing when the state government was trying to force its way to auction the land. He demanded an impartial inquiry into the issue and action against the policemen responsible for using force against the students.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
