Telangana: SC stays tree felling in Kancha Gachibowli, asks chief secretary to file affidavit

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered a stop to all tree-felling activities in Telangana’s Kancha Gachibowli forest area near the University of Hyderabad campus, Live Law reported.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih also directed state’s chief secretary to file an affidavit explaining the “compelling urgency to to undertake the developmental activities including the removal of trees from the alleged forest area”.

The state government was also told to clarify if environmental impact assessment certification and other necessary permissions for the development activities had been sought from the forest department. The court also asked for information about what the state planned to do with the felled trees.

“Chief Secretary will go to temporary prison constructed on the same spot near the lake…if the Chief Secretary wants to enjoy the State hospitality, one can’t help it,” Gavai was quoted as saying by Bar and Bench.

Earlier in the day, the court had directed the registrar of the Telangana High Court to inspect the densely forested, 400-acre land parcel and submit a report by 3.30 pm.

When the matter was taken up at 3.45 pm, the court noted that the registrar’s report showed an “alarming picture”. It held that, prima facie, a “forest inhabited by wild animals existed” in the area.

Since Sunday afternoon, over 50 bulldozers have been clearing the...

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