University of Hyderabad denies land demarcation, will request Telangana Govt to ‘conserve’ environment

NEW DELHI: The University of Hyderabad has clarified that no survey was conducted last year to demarcate 400 acres of land on campus and urged the media to refrain from spreading misinformation. The clarification comes in wake of a row over Telangana government’s plan to develop the land at Kancha Gachibowli bordering the university.

53 students were detained and later released for protesting on campus after earth-moving machines were allegedly brought to clear a land parcel. Meanwhile Telangana chief minister A Revanth Reddy alleged that students were being provoked and that the land doesn’t belong to the university.

In an official statement, the UoH said that it has been requesting the state government to ‘alienate’ its land and will urge it to conserve the biodiversity.

“In response to the recent spread of misinformation in the media and other persons, the University of Hyderabad wishes to clarify that no survey was conducted in July 2024 by the revenue authorities in the University campus to demarcate the 400 acres of land resumed by the State Government in 2006 from Ms IMG Academies Bharata Pvt. Ltd. The only action taken thus far has been a preliminary inspection of the land’s topography,” the university said in a statement.

UoH also denied the recent statement of the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) in the press that it has agreed for such demarcation of the land. “In fact, no demarcation of land has been done nor the University has been informed,” it remarked.

UoH land transfer, misinformation

“The University of Hyderabad, an Institution of Eminence in its Golden Jubilee year has been requesting the State Government for alienation of its land. The University will forward the representations of the stakeholders to the State Government to reconsider the points raised and request the State Government to conserve the environment and biodiversity in the area,” the university further said.

The Hyderabad University further noted that any transfer of land allocated to the university can occur with the formal concurrence of the University’s Executive Council as per Clause (ix) of Statute 13, which comprises six nominees appointed by the President of India, in the capacity of visitor of the university.

Expressing disappointment over misinformation, it said, “The University administration strongly urges all stakeholders and members of the media to exercise caution and refrain from disseminating or endorsing unverified information. The unchecked spread of such misinformation, without proper consultation with University authorities, has unfortunately become a recurring issue, as highlighted by several recent media reports.”