Institute of Legal and Management Studies

During the hearing of the Kancha Gachibowli Deforestation case, the Telangana Government today informed the Supreme Court that it was planning to come up with a better proposal for its IT Site, keeping sustainable development in mind.

The bench of CJI BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran was hearing the suo motu matter on the Telangana Government's felling of 1,000 trees in the Kancha Gachibowli area in the outskirts of Hyderabad.

Senior Advocate AM Singhvi, appearing for the State, requested additional time to file a reply. He added that the State Government is thinking of coming up with a better execution plan.

"We are now thinking of a much larger plan, making sure that wildlife, forest, lake-"

The CJI interjected, "Come up with a good proposal!"

He further added, "If you come up with a good proposal, we will withdraw all earlier compliments and give you real compliments"

Previously, the Court warned the State officials of contempt proceedings and temporary imprisonment, as it noted that a long weekend was misused to initiate the bulldozing of the region.

The CJI stressed that the Court was only concerned with adequate compensatory measures like replanting of trees in return for all those which were uprooted.

Agreeing to grant 6 weeks time to the State, the bench recorded the following order :

Mr AM Singhvi for the State submits that the state is looking at the whole issue in a holistic manner, wherein the interest of the environment and wildlife would be sought to be balanced with the development.

We appreciate it if the state takes such a stand. Time and again we have said that we are not against the development. However, the development has to be sustainable development. While carrying out developmental activities, the interest of the environment and wildlife has to be taken care of by ensuring that mitigating and compensatory measures.

If the state comes up with such a proposal, we will welcome such a proposal.

Background

Briefly put, the issue arises out of a government order, statedly issued by Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC), seeking to alienate 400 acres of green cover land in the Kancha Gachibowli forest area, for setting up IT infrastructure. I

On April 2, the Telangana High Court stayed felling of trees on the subject land until April 3, when the matter was slated to be taken up. On April 7, the High Court deferred till April 24 the hearing of petitions filed with respect to tree felling in the area, noting that the Supreme Court is seized of the issue.

As per claims, TSIIC acquired the land in 2012 and issued the subject order in 2024 with an intention to alienate the land for furtherance of the IT sector. In furtherance of the same, it began to cut down trees on the land and recently, the rate of felling of trees became brisk. Huge machines were brought on site to cut down trees, which prompted initiation of PILs before the High Court.

The PIL-petitioners argued that the government was proceeding in blatant disregard of two Supreme Court judgments viz. TN Godavarman Thirumulpad v. Union of India and Ashok Kumar Sharma v. Union of India where all states were directed to form committees for identification of forest and forest-like areas as per the dictionary meaning of forest. It was further their case that the land was being auctioned to set up an IT park, yet no environmental assessment was conducted as per EIA notification, 2006.

The State's defense, on the other hand, was that the subject land was "industrial land" and the petitioners' claims were based on Google images.

Later, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the large scale felling of trees in the area.

Case Title : IN RE KANCHA GACHIBOWLI FOREST, STATE OF TELANGANA VERSUS |SMW(C) No. 3/2025 (and connected case)