Bollywood actor John Abraham has appealed to Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to cancel the state government’s proposed development of 400 acres of green land in Kancha Gachibowli. The land, which serves as a critical green zone and wildlife habitat, is earmarked for industrial development, triggering widespread backlash from citizens and conservationists alike.
Actor raises alarm over environmental impact
Taking to social media platform X, John Abraham strongly criticized the plan, highlighting the irreversible consequences it may have on the region’s biodiversity.
“Request you to scrap the plan of clearing 400 acres of trees/forest in Kancha Gachibowli which serve as a green lung for the city & also habitat for numerous species of protected wildlife thriving inside it for decades. Clearing the trees will leave wildlife without a home and exacerbate man-wildlife conflict. Please stop this,” he posted, tagging the Chief Minister directly.
Students, activists join growing opposition
The project, which involves clearing forested land for IT parks and urban development, has sparked protests across Hyderabad—particularly at the University of Hyderabad, located near the proposed site. Student groups and environmentalists have voiced strong objections, warning of the ecological damage and loss of green cover the plan could bring.
Amid these protests, heavy machinery including excavators had already been deployed for land clearing, prompting legal and public outcry.
Supreme Court steps in, halts activity
Responding to the growing concerns, the Supreme Court has issued a stay on all activity on the land, barring actions specifically aimed at tree protection. The apex court questioned the urgency behind the state’s development plans and sought an explanation, citing the interim report submitted by the Telangana High Court that presented a disturbing environmental scenario.
Following the court’s intervention, the Telangana govt has agreed to pause the plan and form a consultative committee. This panel will include stakeholders such as civil society groups, the University of Hyderabad’s executive committee and protesting students to work towards a sustainable alternative.
Call for sustainable development
Environmentalists are urging the Telangana administration to reconsider the project in light of its long-term ecological impact. The forested land in Kancha Gachibowli has been a sanctuary for various species of wildlife for decades and its clearance could drastically alter the urban ecosystem and trigger man-animal conflict in surrounding areas.
As legal, political, and civic discourse continues, the future of the project—and the forest land—remains uncertain.