No UoH land encroached; water bodies and rocks preserved, says TGIIC

Mushroom Rock, around which biodiversity flourished in Kancha Gachobowli, which had been part of the University of Hyderabad.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) has asserted that it has neither encroached upon the land of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) nor disturbed the existing water bodies or rock formations on the 400-acre land at Kancha Gachibowli in Serilingampally mandal of Rangareddy district.

The TGIIC has, in fact, prepared a layout duly preserving rock formations, including the Mushroom rock, as green spaces within it. A detailed environment master plan is also being prepared to ensure sustainable development of the region.

Corporation officials said the 400-acre land was allotted to IMG Academies Bharata Pvt. Ltd. for the development of sports facilities in 2004 and it was resumed in 2006 as the project of the IMG Academies Bharata did not take off. This landed the issue in a prolonged legal battle in the High Court and Supreme Court which passed the orders in favour of the government after 18 years. The UoH was not a respondent during the entire legal battle.

The deputy collector of the Serilingampally mandal has confirmed that as per revenue records, the land was recorded as ‘Kancha Asthabal Poramboke Sarkari’, government land, not forest land. It was free from encroachments and under the possession of the government for further development.

The government had also conducted the survey with the consent of the UoH Registrar on July 19 last year wherein the boundaries of the land were fixed.

The government subsequently issued a request for proposal on February 28 this year for the selection of transaction advisory for optimisation of the master plan for the integrated development of 400 acres and providing assistance in auction as was done in the past for the development of similar projects. The project, officials said, aligns with the government’s priority to develop world-class infrastructure, improve connectivity and create sustainable urban spaces.