Supreme Court slams Telangana govt over felling of trees, seeks restoration plan

Students of the University of Hyderabad celebrate after the Supreme Court halted the felling of trees in 400 acres of forested land in the Kancha Gachibowli area, in Hyderabad

The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Telangana government over large-scale felling of trees on a land parcel next to the University of Hyderabad.

A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih said that the court is concerned about how so many trees were cleared without the permission of authorities.

The court also directed the Wildlife warden of Telangana to examine and take immediate steps to protect the wildlife affected by deforestation in 100 acres of land in Kancha Gachibowli, Telangana.

Rebuking the Revanth Reddy government, the court said that if it wants the the chief secretary to be saved from severe action, it will have to come out with a plan to restore the land where the trees were felled.

"... we are surprised to see herbivorous animals in the videos, they are running to seek shelter, bitten by stray dogs," Justice Gavai said.

The apex court expressed concern at the damage done to the environment following the action.

"We are only concerned with presence of bulldozer and erasing of forest of 100 acres. If you wanted to construct, you should have taken permission," the court said.

On April 3, the court took suo motu cognisance of the deforestation activities in the Kancha Gachibowli forest and directed that until further orders, no activity of any sort, except the protection of the trees already existing there, shall be undertaken by the state or any authority.

The apex court took cognisance of the matter after it was brought to its notice by senior advocate K Parameshwar, who is assisting it as an amicus curiae in forest-related matters.

The bench perused an interim report submitted by the registrar (judicial) of the Telangana High Court which said a large number of small and medium-size trees and some big trees were being destroyed.

It said the report also found that a certain number of peacocks, deer and birds were also seen in the area.

"These are, prima facie, indication that there existed a forest inhabited by the wild animals," the bench said.

It directed the chief secretary of Telangana to answer several of its questions, including whether the state obtained the Environmental Impact Assessment certificate for such developmental activities there.

The bench asked whether requisite permission from the forest authorities or any other local statutes was obtained for felling the trees.

Students of the University of Hyderabad were protesting against the state government's plans to develop the 400-acre land parcel bordering the university.

The student groups and environmental activists have voiced opposition to the proposal to undertake development work at the site, citing ecological conservation concerns.

(With inputs from PTI)