HYDERABAD: Congress MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy has strongly refuted what he termed as a politically motivated misinformation campaign regarding a contentious 400-acre parcel in Survey No. 25 of Kancha Gachibowli, asserting that it is not forest land but government property. In a detailed representation submitted to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC), he stated that the land was legally transferred to the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) following due process.
In a forcefully worded letter, Kiran Kumar Reddy clarified that official revenue records classify the site as “Kancha Asthabal Poramboke Sarkari,” and it has never been designated as forest land by either the revenue or forest departments. He accused certain vested interests of fabricating ecological concerns to obstruct Telangana’s development and discredit the Congress-led state government.
Providing a historical account of the land, the MP noted that the University of Hyderabad (UoH) was given possession of the area in 1975 but was never granted ownership. In 2003, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with IMG Academies Bharata Pvt. Ltd. for a sports facility, following which 534.28 acres were resumed from UoH. Of this, 400 acres were allocated to the Sports Authority, and 134.28 acres to Telangana Government NGOs. In return, UoH was granted 397 acres in Survey Nos. 36 and 37, relinquishing all claims on the original land.
Kiran Kumar Reddy highlighted that the Telangana High Court had dismissed UoH’s writ petition (W.P. No. 816/2021), affirming the university held no legal title. Despite this, he noted, the university constructed a large structure on 10 acres of the disputed site without permissions or clearances.
He also referred to the long-standing legal dispute between the State Government and IMG Bharata, which concluded with the Supreme Court’s dismissal of IMG’s Special Leave Petition (SLP No. 9265/2024) on May 3, 2024. Notably, UoH did not participate in any of the legal proceedings over the 18-year span, reinforcing, he said, that the university had no rightful claim.
The MP also criticised opposition leaders and public figures, including Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy and BRS leader G. Jagadeeshwar Reddy, for sharing allegedly fake AI-generated images to claim deforestation. “False narratives were spread using fabricated images. Several FIRs have already been filed against those responsible,” he stated.
Refuting ecological damage allegations, Kiran Kumar Reddy pointed out that the land remained undeveloped due to legal disputes, and the overgrown vegetation was being misrepresented as forest. He further mentioned that the site is surrounded by expansive green areas, including the 274-acre KBR Botanical Garden and the 535-acre Financial District Golf Course, all within a five-kilometre radius.
He defended the government’s move to transfer the land, stating that the State Cabinet approved the alienation in June 2024, and the TGIIC formally took possession on 1 July 2024. The land is earmarked for an IT and mixed-use development project expected to attract over ₹50,000 crore in investment and create five lakh jobs.
“This is not just about a land parcel. This is about Telangana’s future and growth. Certain vested interests want to stop Hyderabad’s rise and deny opportunities to our youth,” he said, urging the CEC to assess the matter based on facts and judicial decisions.
