Overview: A Disappearing Canopy
Once a calm stretch of verdant lungs tucked away in Hyderabad,
Telangana's western corridor, Gachibowli is now a very different place.
Once bordered by tamarind groves and neem trees, its skyline is now a
glass and concrete forest. The environment has changed so drastically and
quickly in only twenty years that it's difficult to identify the Gachibowli of
the 1990s in the sprawling cities of today. Lost habitats, displaced
species, shattered local communities, and the ecological effects of unbridled
urban ambition are all part of the story of Gachibowli's destruction.
From Green Belt to Tech Belt in Gachibowli
The Origins of a Wooded History Before the IT explosion, Gachibowli was
mostly a forest-ringed enclave with small farming towns, lakes, dense
vegetation, and rocky outcrops. It belonged to the distinctive
environment known as the Deccan thorn scrub forests, which are exclusive to the
dry regions of Telangana. Peacocks, porcupines, wild hares, mongooses, and
snakes were among the many animals that called these forests home.
The Gold Rush in Real Estate and the IT Boom
Hyderabad was named a tech hub in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Gachibowli was the next obvious development destination because of the
creation of HITEC City and its close proximity to the Outer Ring Road.
Trees were the first casualties of the fervent need for property that
accompanied the arrival of financial districts, universities, and international
enterprises. According to environmental studies and satellite photos,
more than 60% of Gachibowli's green cover has disappeared between 2002 and
2020, leaving behind private plantations and dense forest sections.
The Telangana State Remote Sensing Application Centre (TRAC) has provided the following figures to quantify the loss:
2002: The Gachibowli region's tree cover is approximately 9.4 square kilometers.
2022: The remaining tree cover is roughly 2.1 square
kilometers. That's a 20-year drop of 77.7%.
Lakes and watersheds are getting smaller.
There were other instances of deforestation. It coincided with the
depletion of natural water sources, such as the smaller capillary ponds and the
Gopi Cheruvu. Impervious surfaces have supplanted trees, which stored
soil and controlled groundwater recharge, resulting in frequent heat waves and
flooding in cities.
Why It Is Important:
The Effect on the Environment
Biodiversity in Recession. There was a sharp decline in fauna after
forests vanished. Even familiar species like barn owls, spotted deer, and
Indian rollers are now infrequently seen by locals. Ecologists have
recorded: A 60% decrease in observations of native birds, Ground-dwelling
mammal extinction as a result of habitat loss, an increase in conflicts between
humans and animals, such as jackals and snakes
The Effect of Urban Heat Islands
Trees control heat; concrete absorbs it. In comparison to its
pre-2000 baseline, Gachibowli has warmed by 3 to 5°C due to the absence of
canopy. Summers are now longer and hotter, and residents use air
conditioners more frequently and use more energy, all of which contribute to a
vicious climate loop.
Degradation of Air Quality
When the trees are gone, the air is still polluted by cars and dust.
Since 2010, Gachibowli's PM2.5 levels have tripled, making it one of the
city's less breathable areas.
People vs. Progress:
The Conundrum of Development
Whose Trees Are They? The legal and social ambiguity around
property ownership and tree preservation is one of the most intricate features
of Gachibowli's deforestation. Numerous wooded areas were designated as
"revenue land," although officially held by the government, local
communities exploited and preserved these places unofficially. The trees
were frequently viewed as liabilities rather than assets when big businesses
started buying or renting this land. Environmental impact assessments
(EIAs) were hardly taken into consideration when obtaining permits for
"clearing" land.
Local Communities Being Displaced
Through land purchase or force, the indigenous inhabitants, who were
frequently shepherds, small-scale farmers, and craftspeople, were forced to
leave. Their customary means of subsistence vanished when the forests
disappeared. What took its place? Tech parks, gated neighbourhoods,
and high-rises are examples of progress that rarely include the displaced in
their wealth.
Resistance and Activism
Movements of Citizens. There have been pockets of resistance in Gachibowli
despite the overwhelming tide of development. The green belts of
Gachibowli were included in the advocacy efforts of the Save KBR Park Movement.
In 2017, activities to tag trees raised awareness of silent axings. To
stop unapproved felling, independent activists like Lubna Sarwath and others
have filed numerous PILs (Public Interest Litigations).
Legal Structure and Weaknesses
Although Telangana has a Tree Protection Act, it is not well enforced.
Many real estate developers take advantage of the exclusions granted by Section
28 of the Act for "development projects." Even worse, when required,
compensatory afforestation is sometimes carried out outside the area, making it
environmentally useless for Gachibowli.
Is It Possible to Reforest?
The Urban Rewilding Challenge: Rebuilding an ecosystem is more difficult
than planting saplings. The following reasons explain why many
initiatives at compensatory planting in parks and sidewalks fail: The
attractive, non-native trees that have been introduced include palm trees.
Construction debris frequently degrades the condition of the soil.
No monitoring system is in place to guarantee long-term survival.
Effective Models
But there is still hope. Among the encouraging initiatives are:
Miyawaki forests grew in Nanakramguda and Kondapur. Pockets of
ancient vegetation are being preserved on university campuses (such as
IIIT-Hyderabad). Urban biodiversity parks supported by CSR in partnership
with NGOs
A Tipping Point or a Turning Point in the Future?
Today, Gachibowli serves as a warning story and a real-life illustration
of how unchecked development may destroy the natural elements that previously
made a place livable. Suggestions for Policy Green audits are required
both before and after project clearances. Tight zoning regulations
to preserve natural areas. Decentralized green areas, such as rooftop greens,
vertical gardens, and mini-forests, Transparency through public access to
GIS-based tree maps
A Change in Paradigm
The "build first, fix later" approach to urban development must
give way to "grow with nature." Cities must embrace a
climate-resilient planning paradigm, where trees are viewed as necessary
infrastructure rather than ornamental elements, as climate change intensifies.
In conclusion, the trees' memory
In addition to providing shade, the trees that formerly stood in Gachibowli preserved species, stories, seasons, and symbiotic interactions. Their elimination is cultural, social, and existential in nature rather than just botanical. If we don't take note of Gachibowli's deforestation, we run the risk of making the same mistakes in Hyderabad and every other fast urbanizing area in India. The forests inside our cities need to be prioritized, protected, planted, and preserved.
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