Union Minister Kishan Reddy today welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court of India to stay the ongoing works in the controversial Kancha Gachibowli land issue.
“We welcome the judgment of the Supreme Court imposing a ‘stay’ on the environmental destruction being carried out by the Telangana government in the Kancha Gachibowli area of Hyderabad.
Taking into account the concerns being raised by all sections of the society to protect the environment and biodiversity in 400 acres of land, the Supreme Court has taken up the matter suo motu and ordered the Registrar of the Telangana High Court to inspect the site and submit a report immediately,” he said in a statement.
Reddy said considering the key points of the report given by the Registrar of the High Court, the Supreme Court had ordered an immediate stop to the felling of trees in the controversial lands and added that it had directed the Chief Secretary of the Telangana government to constitute an expert committee within a month while noting that the committee has been asked to submit a report within six months.
“We feel that the struggle of the students has been rewarded due to Supreme Court’s decision. The Supreme Court has stated that an attempt is being made to damage the forest resources in the Kancha Gachibowli area. In a situation where permissions are required to be taken just to cut a single tree, have environmental permissions been taken to cut such a large number of trees, the Supreme Court questioned. Although biodiversity is visible before our eyes it expressed astonishment at the cutting of trees.
Although the Supreme Court took this forest destruction as Suo moto on Thursday morning, it is unfortunate that the State government has ignored it and continued cutting of trees since Thursday morning,” he alleged.
He requested Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to change his thinking at least now, put aside his personal ego and implement the orders of the Supreme Court. He demanded unconditional release of the students who were arrested as part of the efforts to protect the environment and biodiversity.