Hyderabad Central University (HCU) witnessed heightened tension on Thursday as student protests continued against the proposed auction of 400 acres of land adjacent to the campus.
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ABVP Members Arrested While Attempting to Enter Campus
Activists from the Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) attempted to enter the HCU campus but were stopped and arrested by the police. When the protesters gathered at the main gate and later tried to enter through another gate, a scuffle ensued, leading to more arrests.
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Demands to Withdraw Land Auction Decision
- ABVP activists and HCU students demanded that the Telangana government withdraw its decision to auction the land in Kancha Gachibowli.
- Protesters accused the government of destroying Hyderabad’s green space by clearing forested land for private companies.
- They also criticized the police for their alleged highhandedness in dealing with peaceful protests.
Left-Affiliated Student Groups Also Arrested
- Members of the Students Federation of India (SFI), Progressive Democratic Students Union (PDSU), and other groups were arrested as they attempted to march to the State Secretariat.
- The protesters raised slogans against the government while carrying flags and placards.
- Police detained them by force and transported them in police vehicles.
Environmental Concerns & Opposition Protests
- HCU students, environmental activists, and opposition parties have been protesting against the auction of the land for IT park development.
- Protesters argue that the land is home to diverse wildlife, lakes, and mushroom rocks, and clearing it would harm Hyderabad’s ecosystem.
- The Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) has deployed over 40 JCBs to clear the land, sparking public outrage.
Students Demand Immediate Action
- Protesters are calling for the immediate removal of JCBs from the area.
- They want a written assurance that HCU will legally register the land under its ownership.
Government’s Stand on Land Auction
The Telangana government maintains that:
- The land is government-owned and is being developed for IT parks to generate jobs for youth.
- The state is focusing on economic development rather than preserving the forested land.
High Court Steps In, Orders Halt on Tree Felling
- The Telangana High Court issued an interim order on Wednesday, halting tree felling and land clearing.
- The court’s decision came after Public Interest Litigations (PILs) were filed by HCU students and the Vata Foundation.
Allegations of Continued Land Clearing Despite Court Order
- Student groups claim that bulldozers are still in action, cutting down trees, despite the High Court’s directive.
Union Government Seeks Report on Land Clearance
- The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has asked for an urgent report from the Telangana government.
- The Additional Chief Secretary (Forest), Government of Telangana, has been directed to submit a factual and action-taken report immediately.
The HCU land protest continues to escalate, with students and activists demanding justice while the government remains firm on its development plans.