Priyanka Tiwari
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The Telangana government received criticism from the Supreme Court of India for clearing a significant area of trees adjacent to the University of Hyderabad without taking due approval into account. The court branch undertook the issue after noticing the rampant deforestation taking place around the Kancha Gachibowli forest.
Judges B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih were astounded at the gravity of the environmental impact, particularly when such actions are taken without basic necessary permission. The court observed that not only were peacocks and deer present there, but also many other birds which pointed towards the region being a forest.
The bench issued rigid instructions to the state contending that unless a clear plan to restore the damage is presented, mild legal ramifications for senior government officials including the chief secretary will have to be enforced. The violence peplaced by the state gives away the wrath the court holds, payable for disservice done against humanity.
The court cited videos depicting herbivorous wildlife devoid of shelter, some victimized by stray canines, to endorse the bushman’s plight. These videos indeed remove any doubts regarding the court’s anger regarding wildlife harassment.
The court, in its April 3 order, has directed that no development activity shall be undertaken on the land, aside from measures to safeguard the remaining trees, until further orders.
This came to the notice of the court when senior advocate K Parameshwar, who was appointed as amicus curiae, brought it to the attention of the court. The registrar of the Telangana High Court had said in an interim report that several trees were shown to be cut and there was some wildlife in the vicinity.
The supreme court has now called for an answer from the chief secretary of the state on whether the necessary EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) certificate and other required permissions were secured prior to commencing work on the site.
At the same time, schoolchildren together with green campaigners have been demonstrating against the government’s development proposal on the 400-acre stretch of land near the University of Hyderabad. They contend that such action would cause the collapse of the local ecosystem and the destruction of local wildlife habitats.
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