Proposal of Eco Park at University of Hyderabad doesn’t look feasible

The UoH is considered a top university in the country with excellent academic and research achievements. File
| Photo Credit: Siddhant Thakur

As the controversy around the 400-acre land parcel in Kancha Gachibowli, adjacent to the University of Hyderabad (UoH), escalates amidst a strong stance from the government and stiff opposition from the students over its development, the government is toying with the idea of converting an entire 2,000 acre area including the 1600-odd acres of the University into a huge Eco-park.

The proposal was brought to the notice of the Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy recently after the Supreme Court questioned the clearance of the green cover in haste. A committee of Group of Ministers was constituted by the government to speak to the stakeholders including students and civil society.

The Chief Minister is yet to take a stand on the proposal and has not discussed it with his Cabinet colleagues, according to a senior colleague. Whether such a proposal will be a reality is the question now given the complex issues involved in giving a shape to the idea of a 2000-acre Eco-park taking over 1600 acres from the University.

As per the proposal, the Government should shift the University campus to the proposed Future City of 30,000 acres between the Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar highways. The University would get some part of it with the government also supporting with funds for construction of buildings and hostels.

A senior leader of the party and close to the Chief Minister said there is no communication to him on such plan and even the officials seem to be unaware of such plan. “It doesn’t seem to be true though media is highlighting such proposal with the Chief Minister,” he said.

Is the proposal feasible is a question that none of the officials are willing to discuss. Taking over more than 1600 acres of land of a University in existence for almost 50 years to create lung space doesn’t look feasible. There are technical and practical issues that could lead to long legal battles and headache for the government.

The UoH is a Central University with the Central Government managing it administratively, appointing a Vice Chancellor to the faculty and also allocating the University budget. The State Government’s contribution is limited to providing the land for setting up the University.

Moreover, the President of India is the Visitor of the University, in other words, she is the Chancellor and Head of the University and all important academic and administrative decisions are taken in her name. Without her consent taking over the land looks quite unlikely.

The other aspect is the expected backlash from the students, civil society and the opposition parties, who would go to town opposing any such move. They have combinely made a huge issue of the present 400-acres, which is owned by the government, and one can expect their reaction if the government plans to shift them to a new campus.

The UoH is considered a top university in the country with excellent academic and research achievements. Relocating it totally to a new place would mean it would take another decade to be set up completely. It is not just moving thousands of students but also the laboratories, classrooms, hostels and other administrative buildings. “The idea is just not feasible,” a senior academic said.