Telangana Govt’s Plan to Auction 400 Acres of Land in Gachibowli Faces Backlash

Hyderabad: Residents of Cyberabad have started a social media campaign against the Telangana government’s plan to auction off 400 acres of land in Gachibowli to raise ₹10,000 crore. The land, located between Hillridge and the Indian School of Business (ISB), will be sold for commercial development. This land is four times bigger than KBR Park, a key green space in the city, and is home to many important animals and plants.

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Why This Land is Important

The 400-acre land is not just a random piece of land; it’s a critical urban forest. It’s home to many species, including around 237 types of birds, and several protected animals like the Spotted Deer, Indian Star Tortoise, and Indian Rock Python. There are also two lakes—Peacock Lake and Buffalo Lake—which attract many migratory birds.

Where will all the animals go? That’s the question being asked by local residents and environmentalists who are concerned about the future of the forest and its wildlife.

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A group called SaveCityForest is leading the campaign to save the land. They plan to work with lawyers and environmentalists to stop the auction and save this green space.

What’s Happening with the Auction?

The Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSIIC) is responsible for the auction. They are planning to sell the land for ₹10,000 crore from March 8 to 15, 2025. While the government says this is a way to make money and develop infrastructure, they are not talking about the environmental damage this could cause.

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This land is not just empty space; it’s a biodiverse forest that hasn’t been touched by development. It is home to wild animals like wild boars, porcupines, Indian mongoose, and monitor lizards. The auction would also destroy important water bodies that attract migratory birds.

The government plans to turn this area into commercial and residential spaces, public parks, and green spaces. But environmentalists say this will not make up for the loss of the land’s rich wildlife and ecological value.

The Government’s Plans for the Land

The TSIIC is working with consultants to create a sustainable master plan for the land. These plans will include commercial and residential development, public parks, cycling trails, and other amenities. But many residents worry that these developments will hurt the environment, and they’re concerned that the auction will focus on making money, not on protecting nature.

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One member of SaveCityForest, who lives in Hillridge, said, “The government never talks about the forest. We reached out to forest officials, but they can’t help because the land isn’t technically considered forest land.” The group is now trying to get help from the central government and plans to file a petition to save the land.

The Ecological Value of Kancha Gachibowli

Kancha Gachibowli is one of the last remaining urban forests in Hyderabad. The area is home to many plants and animals, some of which are medicinal. The University of Hyderabad has documented the biodiversity of the area through photos and videos.

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For example, the Indian Star Tortoise is a protected species, listed under India’s Wild Life Protection Act. It is also classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. If the forest is destroyed, these animals will lose their homes, which could push them closer to extinction.

Impact on Climate and Air Quality

The forest plays an important role in climate regulation. It helps to cool down the area and reduce the urban heat island effect (where cities become much hotter than surrounding areas). Hyderabad is already dealing with extreme summer heat, and losing this forest would make things worse.

Air Quality:

Trees filter the air by absorbing carbon dioxide and other harmful pollutants. With air quality already a concern in Hyderabad, getting rid of the forest will make the problem worse.

Water Security:

The trees in the forest help absorb rainwater and allow water to flow into underground reserves. Without the forest, the city could face water shortages, as the land will no longer be able to store water as efficiently.

Cooling Effect:

Urban forests help cool cities down by providing shade and reducing heat. Without the 400 acres of green space, Hyderabad will face even hotter summers, leading to higher energy consumption and more heat-related health issues.

Legal Issues Around the Land

The land in Kancha Gachibowli has a complicated legal history. It was originally given to the University of Hyderabad (UoH) in 1974 for academic purposes. In the early 2000s, IMG Academies was given part of the land to build a sports academy, but they failed to develop it. The government then took back the land.

In 2025, the Telangana High Court ruled that the government could keep the land and auction it off. Even though the land was originally meant for educational purposes, the government now plans to turn it into commercial real estate.

The Ethical Issue

Many people feel that turning this land into real estate is not just about making money—it’s about ignoring the environment for the sake of development. Environmentalists argue that this is a dangerous move that could harm the city’s future sustainability.

What Can Be Done?

The auction of this 400-acre forest isn’t just about land—it’s about the destruction of an important natural habitat. Once this forest is gone, it cannot be brought back. The SaveCityForest campaign is calling on citizens, environmentalists, and policymakers to speak out and stop the auction to protect this green space.

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This land is a biodiversity hotspot, a climate regulator, and one of the last remaining green lungs of Hyderabad. Destroying this forest could set a dangerous precedent for other important areas in the city.

As the auction date approaches, it’s time for people to speak up. “We must protect this forest before it is lost forever,” said an expert. “The state will start receiving bids on March 8, 2025. We must watch closely and make sure the government knows that we are paying attention to this issue.”

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