The Supreme Court has issued a stern warning to the Telangana government regarding the unauthorized deforestation of approximately 100 acres in the Kancha Gachibowli area near Hyderabad Central University. The Court emphasized that if the state fails to present a credible plan to restore the green cover, senior officials, including the Chief Secretary, could face imprisonment.
A bench comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and A.G. Masih expressed strong disapproval of the state’s actions, highlighting that the tree felling occurred without the necessary permissions, in violation of the Court’s 1996 judgment on forest conservation. The Court noted that the deforestation took place over a three-day holiday period, raising concerns about the urgency and legality of the operation .
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Telangana government, contended that the felling was limited to species exempted under the state’s Water, Land, and Trees Act (WALTA) and that the actions were “bonafide and unintentional.” However, the Court rejected this justification, stating that no bureaucratic interpretation can override its prior orders .
The Court has granted the state four weeks to submit a comprehensive restoration plan and has scheduled the next hearing for May 15. In the interim, it has directed the Wildlife Warden of Telangana to implement immediate measures to protect the displaced wildlife and prohibited any further tree felling in the area .
This development follows reports that the deforested land had been mortgaged to private entities for substantial sums, raising further concerns about the state’s adherence to environmental and legal protocols .
Sources