Kancha Gachibowli Forest: The Lungs of Hyderabad and a Living Symbol of Resistance

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In the ever-expanding tech corridor of Hyderabad, amidst high-rise buildings and IT parks, lies a forgotten gem—Kancha Gachibowli Forest. This 400-acre natural woodland, tucked behind the University of Hyderabad, is more than just a patch of green. It is home to hundreds of animal and plant species, a carbon sink, a groundwater recharger, a source of peace for urban dwellers, and most importantly, a breathing space for the city.

But today, this forest is under attack. A plan by the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) to auction the land for development has sparked massive protests. Led by students, environmentalists, and nature lovers, this resistance movement has won a temporary victory through a landmark court order. Yet, the larger battle to protect this vital ecosystem continues—and we must all become part of it.

Where is Kancha Gachibowli, and Why Does it Matter?

Kancha Gachibowli Forest is situated between the bustling areas of Gachibowli, Narsingi, and the University of Hyderabad campus. What makes this forest so critical is its unique location—in the middle of Hyderabad’s urban sprawl. It’s one of the few remaining green spaces in a rapidly concretizing city.

For the wildlife, it is a last refuge. For the climate, it is a cooling blanket. For the people, it is a healing space.

Biodiversity on the Brink

This forest isn’t empty land. It shelters:

  • 237+ bird species, including endangered ones

  • Spotted deer, porcupines, wild boars, mongooses

  • The vulnerable Indian star tortoise (protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972)

  • Rare snakes, amphibians, and hundreds of plant species

Destroying this forest for infrastructure isn’t just bad policy—it’s ecocide.

The Animal Suffering No One Talks About

When forests are cleared, wildlife doesn’t simply “move away.” They suffer.

Many get injured or killed by construction equipment. Others starve when their food sources disappear. Some, confused and desperate, venture into human settlements, where they’re either killed or captured. Imagine a mother deer, unable to find shelter for her fawn. Or a troop of monkeys running from bulldozers, only to be hit by speeding vehicles.

This is the story of every forest, every river, every species—when greed wins and green loses




A Court Order, A People's Victory

Thanks to the persistent efforts of students, nature lovers, and activists, the Telangana High Court recently ordered that no construction or auction activities shall take place on the disputed forest land until further hearings.

The order is being celebrated as a victory for the environment and a reminder that public resistance can shape policy.

Student leader Akash from the University of Hyderabad says,

“We are not ready to give this land to private parties. It belongs to the people and to the animals that live there.”

 Their protest is not just environmental—it is emotional, spiritual, and deeply human.

Why Forests Like Kancha Gachibowli Are Crucial

  • Carbon Sequestration: Forests trap atmospheric carbon and help slow down climate change.

  • Water Management: Forest floors absorb rainwater, recharge groundwater, and prevent urban flooding.

  • Disease Regulation: Natural ecosystems limit the spread of zoonotic diseases by maintaining balance.

  • Mental Health: Access to green spaces has proven benefits in reducing anxiety, depression, and stress.

  • Urban Cooling: Forests reduce heat island effects, keeping cities cooler naturally.

Hyderabad has already lost 50% of its green cover in the past two decades. Can we afford to lose more?

Echoes from the Hills: Lessons from the Chipko Movement

In the 1970s, women of Uttarakhand hugged trees to prevent them from being felled—birthing the iconic Chipko Movement. Their courage laid the foundation for India’s modern environmental consciousness.

Today, the students and citizens protecting Kancha Gachibowli are carrying forward that same spirit. It’s the same struggle in a different time—the battle between short-term profits and long-term planetary survival.

A Place for Humans, Too: Why We Need Urban Forests

In a world of increasing anxiety, screen addiction, and climate despair, forests like Kancha Gachibowli offer mental clarity, emotional balance, and physical healing.

For students who walk its trails to find peace after exams…
For children who watch peacocks dance in the monsoon…
For senior citizens who sit on rocks surrounded by silence…
This is not just a forest. It is a sanctuary for the soul.

Urban forests aren't luxuries. They are infrastructure for life. More valuable than concrete towers and shopping malls.

What You Can Do: Be the Voice for the Voiceless

  1. Raise awareness: Share this story. Talk about it. Write about it.

  2. Join the movement: Support local protests, NGOs, and forest defenders.

  3. Demand accountability: Ask your local leaders—what are they doing to protect nature?

  4. Reconnect with nature: Visit these places. Feel them. Fight for them.

Kancha Gachibowli is not just a piece of land. It is a living, breathing ecosystem, a part of Hyderabad’s cultural memory, and a space that connects urban citizens to the natural world.

To destroy it is not just environmental negligence. It’s a spiritual and emotional loss.

Let us not be the generation that stood by while the trees fell.
Let us be the ones who said no to destruction and yes to life.

Because once a forest is gone, no amount of money can bring it back.

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