Amid Hyderabad university land dispute, Dharmendra Pradhan assures ‘cooperation’ to opposition leaders

NEW DELHI: Amid a tussle between the University of Hyderabad and Telangana government over a 400-acre land, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan assured ‘cooperation’ to the opposition leaders who approached him seeking intervention in the state government’s land development plan.

Earlier today, Hyderabad University students announced an indefinite protest and boycott of the classes over the land dispute. The university’s student union, along with other student associations, is demanding the removal of police force and earth-movers from the campus.

“A delegation of Telangana MPs led by G Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar met me in the Parliament today to seek the central government’s intervention for protecting 400 acres of ecologically-sensitive and forested land in Kancha Gachibowli, Hyderabad. The green space near University of Hyderabad is a carbon sink and home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. Have assured Hon’ble MPs of appropriate cooperation in this regard,” said Pradhan in a post on X.

The leaders in opposition hit out at the Congress government over its plans to develop the area at Kancha Gachibowli and action on protesting students.

Hyderabad university land issue

While the students raised environment conservation concerns, the state chief minister A Revanth Reddy said that the land belongs to the state and alleged that students are being misled.

The UoH recently clarified that no demarcation of land has been done by the revenue authorities and refuted claims of the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC).

The corporation had said that it proved the ownership of land in the court and assured that the development works will not affect the existing water bodies and rock formations.