The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), appointed by the Supreme Court, came down heavily on the Telangana govt’s actions in the Kancha Gachibowli forest, describing them as “widespread and indiscriminate destruction of trees, shrubs, and other natural vegetation using heavy machinery.”

In its 60-page-long interim report, submitted in response to a suo motu case taken up by the Supreme Court, the CEC stated that the clearing of the forest was done in “unexplained haste” and caused “irreversible damage” to a landscape rich in flora, fauna, and unique rock formations. Rich biodiversity “The actions of TGIIC demonstrate utter disregard for the ecological value of the area and the rich biodiversity it supports,” the report stated. It stated that despite the area’s environmental sensitivity, no environmental clearance was obtained.
“There was no justifiable reason for proceeding without first preparing a detailed project report, which is a basic requirement for any development activity of such scale. The land was cleared without clearly identifying or finalising the nature of the proposed development, leaving serious gaps in planning, impact assessment, and legal compliance,” the report noted.

Immediate investigation The CEC also added that the failure to obtain environmental clearance, while avoiding EC under the EIA Notification, 2006, appears to be a “deliberate act by TGIIC to bypass environmental scrutiny.” “Such action defeats the purpose of environmental due diligence. This warrants immediate investigation and appropriate legal action,” it further read.
Exempted species The report also highlights how the govt classified the area as having only exempted species under the WALTA Act, allowing tree felling without detailed approval. The CEC also flagged other discrepancies in the reported extent of the area proposed for clearance.
“During the official meeting, representatives of TGIIC stated that 122 acres were to be cleared. However, a form submitted to the DFO mentions an area to be cleared as 150 acres, while the letter sent to the police department refers to an area to be cleared as 400 acres.
Such inconsistencies indicate a possible attempt to mislead authorities and circumvent legal scrutiny,” the report quoted. On visiting the site, the committee also found no markers or signs showing which trees were to be retained or removed. “This further supports the conclusion that the entire exercise was carried out in an unplanned, careless, and arbitrary manner,” the CEC stated. It also noted that the clearing operations crushed rare rock formations, which developed over thousands of years.
The govt’s committee for identifying forest-like land also came under scrutiny. Instead of including ecologists or wildlife experts, the panel was filled with bureaucrats and urban planners. The CEC also noted how there is a larger trend where govt institutions support urbanisation over environment conservation.