Kancha Gachibowli row: Bulldozers cannot be used overnight to destroy forest in name of sustainable development, observes Supreme Court

HYDERABAD: The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday observed that 30 bulldozers cannot be deployed overnight to destroy a forest in the name of sustainable development, though it was also important, while hearing the destruction of forests at Kancha Gachibowli in Hyderabad.

The court earlier warned of sending the Chief Secretary and other officials associated with the alleged destruction to jail.When the matter came up for hearing before a bench of Chief Justice BR Gavai, Vinod Chandran, and Joymala Bagchi, the state informed that the entire activity at the disputed area was stopped as per the court orders and submitted a detailed affidavit along with relevant pictures.

“We have done a cartographic survey, the trees are protected, the growth is protected,” the state informed the Supreme Court.Chief Justice Gavai observed that whatever activity cannot be at the cost of devastating the entire environment. “That's not our approach. I myself am an advocate of sustainable development, but that doesn't mean that, overnight, you should employ 30 bulldozers and destroy the forest,” the Chief Justice said.After hearing the state and other parties in the matter, the matter was adjourned to August 13 for further hearing. The Supreme Court earlier initiated suo-motu proceedings in the matter, where trees in large numbers were felled in April 2025.