New Delhi/Hyderabad, 15 May (H.S.): The Supreme Court criticized the Telangana government for its deforestation activities in Kancha Gachibowli, Hyderabad, describing it as seemingly pre-planned. The court demanded that the government decide between restoring the forest or facing potential imprisonment for officers involved. This hearing was part of a suo motu case initiated in response to large-scale tree felling on a 400-acre plot intended for IT park development, which began with the deployment of 50 earthmovers to clear the land.
Chief Justice B R Gavai expressed strong disapproval, questioning the government’s defense of its actions given the photographic evidence of bulldozers being used. He warned that if necessary, government officials, including the chief secretary, could face temporary imprisonment for their roles in this deforestation, which involved the removal of about 1,000 trees. The court emphasized its commitment to sustainable development and criticized the timing of the tree felling, which took advantage of a long weekend.
On April 3, the Supreme Court ordered the Telangana government to halt its alarming deforestation activities in the region. Previous hearings had already issued warnings regarding potential contempt of court for state officials and mandated immediate protective measures for the wildlife affected by the tree clearing. The court sought a response from the Telangana government regarding the findings from a spot inspection by the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) appointed by the court. Overall, the Supreme Court’s stance underscores the necessity for environmental conservation against unchecked development.
On Thursday, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Telangana, requested additional time to respond to the CEC report. He informed the bench, which included Justice A G Masih, that all deforestation activities had ceased, stating, “Everything has stopped, nothing is happening there.” Senior advocate K Parameshwar, serving as amicus curiae, highlighted the CEC’s ground report, which indicated that 60% of the affected area falls within moderately dense and heavily dense forest categories. The court noted that authorities had proceeded with the deforestation drive during the long weekend, suggesting it was a deliberate act to take advantage of the holiday.
Singhvi clarified that the approval process did not occur over the weekend but took a full year through the institutional channels. This response prompted the Chief Justice of India (CJI) to question, “if you are bona fide, then why did you not start it on Monday? Why did you start at the beginning of the long weekend?” Justice Gavai queried whether the state had obtained environmental clearance, indicating that if the state wished, the court could consider contempt proceedings. He urged the state to make a decision to restore the forest to avoid consequences for the secretary.
The court is set to hear the matter again on July 23, emphasizing the importance of adhering to environmental regulations and the implications of proceeding with actions that may damage protected forest areas. The exchange highlights the tension between development and environmental protection, with judicial oversight on governmental authorities’ decision-making processes concerning ecological conservation.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar
