Dharmendra Pradhan Urges Telangana Government to Halt Land Auction Near University of Hyderabad (UoH)

Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has urged the Telangana government to halt the auction of 400 acres of land in Kancha Gachibowli, near the University of Hyderabad (UoH), amid growing protests from students and faculty. In a letter to Telangana chief minister Revanth Reddy, Pradhan emphasized that Hyderabad’s development as an international education hub must not be compromised.

The controversy stems from a 2003 agreement in which UoH ceded approximately 400 acres to the Telangana government in exchange for equivalent land, which has yet to be demarcated. Instead, the state government has now initiated an auction of the land, sparking strong opposition from university stakeholders.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmakers from Telangana, including Union minister G Kishan Reddy, have sought Pradhan’s intervention, arguing that the land in question is a crucial biodiversity hotspot and an essential part of the university’s expansion plans.

“This action has generated significant anxiety and resentment within the university’s student and faculty community, demanding immediate resolution,” Pradhan stated in his letter. He also highlighted that UoH is an Institute of Eminence and one of India’s top-ranked universities, making the preservation of its land vital for academic growth.

The Telangana government maintains that the land belongs to the state and not the university. However, UoH officials have refuted this claim, stating that the boundaries of the land have not been finalized.

As the protests escalate, the University of Hyderabad Students’ Union and other affiliated groups have announced an indefinite strike and boycotted classes starting April 1, demanding the removal of police personnel and construction machinery from the area.

Adding to the controversy, the Union environment ministry has raised concerns over the clearing of vegetation on the disputed land. On Wednesday, it directed the Telangana government to submit a report on the alleged illegal clearing and to take legal action under applicable forest and wildlife laws.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has intervened, ordering the Telangana chief secretary to ensure no trees are felled at the site until further notice.

The protests and legal challenges continue, putting pressure on the state government to reconsider its plans for IT infrastructure development in Kancha Gachibowli while ensuring the concerns of UoH stakeholders are addressed.