Rupali Ganguly Criticises Hyderabad Tree Felling, Calls Out Celebs For Not Speaking Up

Anupamaa star Rupali Ganguly has come out gun blazing at the large-scale deforestation in Hyderabad’s Kancha Gachibowli forest area. In a strongly worded social media post, the actress backed students and activists protesting the destruction of the 400-acre green zone being cleared to build an IT park. Ganguly called out the silence around the issue as well.

The Telangana government gained legal ownership of the 400-acre Kancha Gachibowli land in May 2024, following a two-decade-long legal battle. The state now plans to auction the land with an aim to generate at least Rs 10,000 crore. The larger blueprint includes setting up IT parks and boosting urban connectivity in Hyderabad’s rapidly expanding IT corridor.

“The cries of birds and peacocks in the Hyderabad forest and the visuals of the bulldozers keep playing in my mind," Rupali Ganguly wrote on her official X (Twitter) account.

Applauding the students, the actress further wrote, “God bless the protesting students and the alumni for fighting for the voiceless. It is a relief that the Supreme Court has halted the clearing of the Hyderabad forest. I hope this becomes permanent and deforestation stops."

Rupali Ganguly slammed the decision to raze forest land for infrastructure, calling it “ridiculous". “Destroying a forest for an IT park? Ridiculous how land mafia is catered to," she wrote.

Drawing a sharp comparison to Mumbai’s 2019 Save Aarey movement, which saw massive public outcry and celebrity backing, Rupali Ganguly questioned the deafening silence over the Kancha Gachibowli deforestation. “I wonder where are all the celebrities and activists who protested for weeks during the Save Aarey campaign? It was highlighted nationally and internationally… We need you all again to raise your voice for Kancha Gachibowli," she urged.

“Both the forests r our lungs Aarey 81 acres and Hyderabad is 400 acres. When Mother nature doesn’t discriminate why r we? Let’s come together and be the voice for the voiceless," Rupali further wrote.

In a major development, the Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Telangana government, demanding clarity on the “compelling urgency" behind clearing a vast stretch of tree cover in Hyderabad’s Kancha Gachibowli area, near the University of Hyderabad (UoH). The court issued an immediate stay on all related activities, including deforestation, until further notice.