Bollywood actor John Abraham has voiced strong opposition to the Telangana government's plan to develop the IT industry on a 400-acre plot of land in Kancha Gachibowli. Expressing his concerns on social media platform X, the actor urged the Chief Minister of Telangana, Revanth Anumula, to halt the development plan.
John stated, "Hon’ble CM @revanth_anumula Garu, request you to scrap the plan of clearing 400 acres of trees/forest in Kancha Gachibowli which serve as a green lung for the city & also habitat for numerous species of protected wildlife thriving inside it for decades. Clearing the trees will leave wildlife without a home and exacerbate man-wildlife conflict. Please stop this."
For the unaware, this proposal has sparked widespread opposition, with student groups and environmental activists raising alarms about the ecological impact of the development. Their main concern is the loss of valuable green cover and its adverse effect on the environment and biodiversity.
In response to these concerns, the Supreme Court of India stepped in, directing the Telangana government to halt any activity on the land—except for the protection of trees.
On Thursday, the court questioned the urgency behind the deforestation plans and urged the government to explain why the land should be cleared, highlighting the "alarming picture" painted by an interim report from the Telangana High Court.
The court’s intervention came after tensions escalated at the University of Hyderabad, located near the controversial site, as student protests broke out following the clearing of the forested land.
Excavators had been deployed to clear the trees, and the land is set to be auctioned for the development of IT parks and urban spaces, which are expected to generate significant revenue for the government.
In light of the Supreme Court’s order, the Telangana government has agreed to form a committee to engage with stakeholders, including the University of Hyderabad executive committee, civil society groups, and students, to find a balanced solution for the development and environmental preservation of the area.
The forested land is home to several species of wildlife, and environmentalists are urging the government to reconsider the plan to ensure the protection of both the ecosystem and the community.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
