HYDERABAD: A document allegedly circulated by the University of Hyderabad (UoH) Students’ Union has raised concerns of an orchestrated social media campaign aimed at generating outrage over the proposed development of 400 acres in Kancha Gachibowli. The document outlines a strategy to flood platforms like Twitter with coordinated posts, prompting questions about possible attempts to politicise what officials describe as a non-issue.
The Telangana Government has clarified on multiple occasions that the land in question does not belong to the University, but is a government-owned parcel. Originally allotted to IMG Bharata Pvt Ltd in 2004 by the then Andhra Pradesh Government, the allotment was cancelled in 2006 due to delays. The Supreme Court, in a recent ruling, reaffirmed that the land is State Government property.
Despite this, the document titled Twitter Storm urges students and supporters to use hashtags such as #SaveHCUBiodiversity and #SaveHCULand to portray the development project as an ecological and land rights crisis. The PDF includes over 50 pre-drafted tweets, many of which contain emotionally charged language and political remarks, including references to the Chief Minister and senior Congress leaders.
Officials from the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC), which is spearheading the development project, have rejected these allegations as baseless. They reiterated that the land lies outside the University campus and does not affect any biodiversity zones, rock formations, or water bodies on university grounds. A joint survey was conducted in July 2024 with university representatives present, delineating the boundaries between government and university land.
An official from TGIIC stated that the government’s objective is to create a sustainable, world-class IT and innovation hub that respects the natural landscape while generating substantial employment opportunities for Telangana’s youth. The development plan includes preserving landmarks such as the Mushroom Rock and maintaining significant green cover.
Environmental approvals and a detailed ecological management plan are currently underway. Officials also confirmed that no forest clearance is required, as the land is officially classified as non-forest.
Sources suggest the timing of the Twitter campaign coincides with ongoing student protests and appears aimed at drawing national attention. The campaign document instructs participants to tag prominent Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, in every tweet – further fuelling speculation of political intent.
While students retain the right to protest, state officials have appealed to the public to verify information before sharing or reacting to claims online. “The land has never been part of UoH. It is clearly government property, as confirmed by the Supreme Court. Misleading the public only serves to create confusion,” an official commented.
As controversy continues, state authorities reportedly remain committed to proceeding with the development project, calling the online campaign an “engineered storm” intended to obstruct progress.
