Telangana Safe Jungle Safe Animal | Hyderabad University’s Protest Rally Against Land Development Intensifies
April 2, 2025 – Hyderabad, India – Students and faculty of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) took to the streets today in a spirited protest rally under the banner “Safe Jungle, Safe Animal,” demanding a halt to the Telangana government’s plan to develop 400 acres of biodiverse land adjacent to the university campus. The rally, which began at the Ambedkar Auditorium and aimed to reach the East Campus, was met with police barricades and mild force, escalating tensions in a dispute that has gripped the city for weeks. The demonstrators, joined by environmental activists, are fighting to protect what they call a vital ecological haven, home to rare wildlife and centuries-old greenery, from being razed for an IT park and urban infrastructure.
The contested land in Kancha Gachibowli, bordering UoH’s eastern perimeter, is at the heart of a clash between development and conservation. The Telangana government, led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, insists the 400-acre parcel belongs to the state and is earmarked for auction through the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC). With an estimated value of ₹10,000–15,000 crore, the project promises economic growth via IT hubs and urban connectivity. But for the protesters, the cost is too high. “This isn’t just land—it’s a living ecosystem,” said Umesh Ambedkar, president of the University of Hyderabad Students’ Union (UoHSU). “We’re here to say: safe jungle, safe animal. Destroying this is destroying Hyderabad’s future.”
The “Safe Jungle, Safe Animal” slogan reflects the rally’s core mission: preserving the area’s rich biodiversity. Students and environmentalists cite studies showing the land hosts over 734 plant species, 220 bird species, and vulnerable animals like the Indian star tortoise, alongside two lakes—Peacock Lake and Buffalo Lake—that sustain the local habitat. The iconic Mushroom Rock, a geological heritage site, also falls within the disputed zone. “This is Hyderabad’s lung,” said Vennela, a member of the Ambedkar Students’ Association (ASA). “Once it’s gone, the peacocks crying for help will be silenced forever.”
Tensions flared as the rally, organized by the UoHSU and supported by the UoH Teachers Association, encountered heavy police resistance. Videos circulating online show officers using canes to disperse the crowd, with some students alleging lathi-charges and manhandling. “We were peaceful, raising our voices for nature, and they attacked us,” one protester told local media. A police official countered, “They were prevented from advancing to the site where machinery is working. No excessive force was used.” Over 50 students were detained earlier this week, though most have been released, and security remains heightened with barricades near the MLA quarters and East Campus.
The protest, now in its third day, follows an indefinite class boycott launched on April 1, as students demand the removal of police and earth-moving equipment from the area. Bulldozers and JCBs have been clearing vegetation since March 30, a move activists call “brazen green murder.” The Save City Forest Collective (SCFC) has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Telangana High Court, citing the 1996 T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad vs. Union of India ruling, which classifies any forested land as protected, regardless of official designation. The court is set to hear the case on April 7, but protesters fear irreversible damage will occur before then.
Political fault lines have deepened over the issue. The opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) accused the ruling Congress of hypocrisy, with leader K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) posting on X, “This is not a shop of love but a market of betrayal,” referencing Rahul Gandhi’s campaign slogan. BJP MPs from Telangana, including Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, have appealed to the central government to intervene, highlighting the land’s ecological and cultural significance. Meanwhile, the state government maintains its legal ownership, backed by a 2022 High Court ruling and revenue records, and denies encroaching on UoH’s allocated land.
The university administration has distanced itself, stating that the 400 acres were resumed by the state in 2006 from a private entity and never formally demarcated as campus property. “We’ve forwarded stakeholders’ concerns to the government,” a UoH spokesperson said, urging conservation efforts but stopping short of endorsing the protests.
For the ralliers, the fight transcends ownership—it’s about survival. “If Hyderabad loses this green cover, we’ll face Delhi’s fate: choking air and dying lakes,” warned environmentalist Nihad Sulaiman. A petition on Change.org, nearing 25,000 signatures, echoes their call to declare the area a national park. As bulldozers rumble on, the “Safe Jungle, Safe Animal” movement stands firm, a testament to a generation unwilling to let their ecological heritage be auctioned off. With the court date looming, all eyes are on whether Hyderabad will prioritize progress or preservation—or find a way to balance both.
