Telangana High Court halts tree cutting at Kancha Gachibowli

Telangana High Court Halts Tree Felling in Gachibowli, Orders Review of Infrastructure Project

Hyderabad, June 2024 – In a relief for environmentalists and residents, the Telangana High Court has temporarily stopped the cutting of hundreds of trees in Kancha Gachibowli for a development project, questioning whether authorities explored all alternatives before deciding to axe the greenery. The stay order came after activists challenged the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority's (HMDA) plan to remove over 500 trees for road widening and commercial development in the busy IT corridor.  

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti expressed concern over the potential ecological damage, observing that urban development shouldn't come at the cost of environmental degradation. "We cannot sacrifice our environment in the name of development without exhausting all possible alternatives," the court remarked while directing authorities to submit a detailed report on the necessity of tree removal, feasibility of transplantation, and environmental impact assessment.  

Local residents and environmental groups had been protesting the move, arguing that the large-scale felling would worsen the area's urban heat effect and reduce Hyderabad's already shrinking green cover. Activists from 'Save Urban Trees Hyderabad' welcomed the court's intervention, calling it a victory for sustainable urban planning. "These trees are decades old and provide crucial shade and clean air in our increasingly concrete neighborhood," said Priya Reddy, a member of the group.  

The court's decision has brought temporary respite to the leafy neighborhood, where residents had been documenting the threatened trees through social media campaigns with hashtags like #SaveGachibowliTrees. Many shared memories of the cooling shade provided by the mature canopy during Hyderabad's scorching summers.  

This marks the latest in a series of judicial interventions protecting urban greenery across Indian cities. The High Court has scheduled the next hearing in two weeks, when it will examine whether the infrastructure project can proceed with modifications or needs complete reconsideration. For now, the rustling leaves in Gachibowli continue to whisper their thanks to the judiciary.