Sustainable Development Plan for HCU Lands, SC
The Supreme Court at one stage warned officials of contempt proceedings and imprisonment in a make-shift jail at the site itself for what it called as uprooting of trees.
Hyderabad: In a major breather to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy-led Congress government over the contentious Kancha Gachibowli land issue, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said it would welcome such a proposal that would balance environment with development.
The Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran was reacting to the submission of senior counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the Telangana government, that the “State is looking at the whole issue in a holistic manner, wherein the interest of the environment and wildlife would be sought to be balanced with the development.”
The Supreme Court granted another six weeks’ time to the state government to come up with the plan. Asking it to come up with a “good proposal”, the CJI said the court would withdraw all earlier compliments (read censures) and give you real compliments.” If the state comes up with such a proposal, we will welcome such a proposal, he pointed out.
The Supreme Court at one stage warned officials of contempt proceedings and imprisonment in a make-shift jail at the site itself for what it called as uprooting of trees.
Official sources told Deccan Chronicle that the Wednesday development would give a boost to the Chief Minister’s idea of “sustainable development” of the 400-acre land parcel that would ensure adequate space for greenery and wildlife even after making use of a portion of it for development of IT infrastructure.
The bench reiterated that it was not against the development but the development needs to be sustainable. “While carrying out developmental activities, the interest of the environment and wildlife has to be taken care of by ensuring mitigating and compensatory measures,” the court said in its interim order.
The CJI said he was only concerned about adequate compensatory measures and replanting of trees in place of those uprooted.
