Bulldozers clear HCU land as students protest

Tensions escalated at Hyderabad Central University (HCU) today as bulldozers moved into the campus’s forested land, sparking a fierce student protest against what they see as an attack on their institution’s green spaces. The land-clearing operation, reportedly part of a Telangana government plan to auction approximately 400 acres in Kancha Gachibowli, has ignited outrage among students and faculty.

“Oxygen, Not Auction”

The protest erupted shortly after noon when students spotted heavy machinery near the iconic Mushroom Rock, a cherished natural landmark on campus. Hundreds of students, led by the Hyderabad Central University Students’ Union (HCUSU), rushed to the site, chanting slogans like “Save HCU” and “Oxygen, Not Auction.”

Some protesters climbed atop bulldozers, while others formed human chains to block their advance, accusing the state government of prioritizing commercial interests over ecological conservation and academic autonomy.

“We won’t let them raze our forest land,” declared Nihad Sulaiman, General Secretary of HCUSU. “This is an attack on our university, our heritage, and the biodiversity we’ve safeguarded for decades. The government must halt this immediately.”

Students argue that the land—home to diverse flora and fauna, including peacocks, monitor lizards, and rare migratory birds—serves as Hyderabad’s “green lungs” and should not be sacrificed for development.

Government justifies land clearance

The Telangana government, led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, has defended the move, asserting that the land legally belongs to the state and is designated for infrastructure projects, including IT parks, aimed at boosting economic growth.

Officials claim that the 400-acre parcel was never formally transferred to HCU since its establishment in 1974—a point contested by students and faculty, who insist that the land has been an integral part of the university’s ecosystem for over five decades.

As bulldozers plowed through vegetation, police intervened, detaining at least 50 students in what witnesses described as a heavy-handed crackdown. Videos circulating online show officers dragging protesters into vans, with some students alleging police used lathis and manhandled demonstrators.

The controversy has been brewing for weeks, with earlier protests on March 13 and 29 demanding the auction’s cancellation. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Telangana High Court remains pending, with the government given until April 7 to respond.

With legal action underway and student resistance intensifying, the battle over HCU’s green spaces is far from over.