Hyderabad: Trouble is brewing at Hyderabad Central University (HCU) as students, faculty, and environmentalists clash with the Telangana government over its decision to auction 400 acres of land in Kancha Gachibowli.
The move, spearheaded by the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC), has sparked widespread protests, with critics arguing it threatens the campus’s ecological balance. However, the government staunchly defends its stance, asserting that the land legally belongs to the state. Many are of the impression that It could be better utilized to establish new educational institutions, potentially resolving the conflict.
The disputed 400-acre parcel, located on the eastern edge of the HCU campus, has been a flashpoint since the auction was announced. Students have staged demonstrations, burning effigies of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and raising slogans like “Save HCU” to protect what they call a biodiversity-rich zone, home to rare flora, fauna, and the iconic Mushroom Rock.
Police have detained several protesters, intensifying the unrest. The university administration, however, has clarified that no survey was conducted to earmark the land as campus property, bolstering the government’s claim. Tensions escalated on March 30 when police arrested 15 students during a late-night protest on campus.
The students, who had blocked the main gate and clashed with security forces, were charged with unlawful assembly and released on bail the next morning. This incident has only fueled the agitation, with demonstrators raising slogans like “Save HCU”.
Minister for IT and Legislative Affairs D. Sridhar Babu has emphasized that revenue records confirm the land as state-owned, originally allocated to IMG Academies in 2003 before reverting to the government after a legal dispute. “This is not university land,” he stated, proposing that auction proceeds could fund new educational hubs, enhancing Telangana’s academic landscape without disrupting HCU’s core operations.
Educationists and prominent figures have weighed in. Dr. K. Laxman, BJP OBC Morcha President, condemned the move, arguing it undermines HCU’s legacy. Conversely, some academics support the government, suggesting that modern institutions could address overcrowding and resource shortages at HCU. Filmmaker Nag Ashwin, while opposing deforestation, acknowledged the development dilemma. As protests persist, the Telangana High Court has sought an environmental impact report, leaving the land’s fate hanging in the balance.
