The University of Hyderabad (UoH) students have escalated their protest against the Telangana government’s decision to auction the biodiversity-rich land in Kancha Gachibowli by launching a relay hunger strike. Around 20 students, including UoH Students Union general secretary Nihad Sulaiman, gathered at the university’s north gate, demanding an immediate halt to deforestation and the removal of bulldozers from the area. Despite the Telangana High Court’s directive to pause construction for a day, students claim that work continued overnight and into the morning, prompting them to strengthen their resistance. The heavy deployment of police on the university’s east campus has further fueled tensions, with students urging authorities to withdraw law enforcement personnel from the site.
The agitation has gained support from multiple student organizations, including the ABVP’s UoH unit, which continues its separate protest at the university’s main gate. The demonstrators have called for an indefinite strike and class boycotts, vowing to resist the government’s plan to sell the land for revenue generation. The University of Hyderabad Teachers Association has also joined the protests, standing in solidarity with students. The situation turned violent on Wednesday when police resorted to baton-charging students who attempted to enter the campus where tree removal and land leveling activities were underway. In response, various student unions and political organizations, including PDSU and CPI(M), condemned the police action and staged demonstrations against the government’s stance.
Amid mounting pressure, the Kancha Gachibowli land dispute has drawn national attention. Environmentalists and student activists have called on the central government to intervene and declare the area a National Park to preserve its ecological significance. Meanwhile, legal battles over the issue continue, with the Supreme Court recently seeking an interim report from the Telangana High Court on the matter. The protests reflect growing unrest among students and citizens who argue that urban expansion should not come at the cost of Hyderabad’s green spaces. With tensions running high, the coming days will be crucial in determining the fate of Kancha Gachibowli’s forested land.
