SC stays tree felling in Hyderabad's KBR National Park eco-sensitive zone
New Delhi, May 18
The Supreme Court on Monday put a stay on felling of trees in the eco-sensitive zone surrounding the Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park in Hyderabad.
A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan passed the interim direction and ordered that there should be no tree felling within 25 to 35 metres Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the part.
The apex court also issued notice on a plea challenging the move to cut trees for road development.
The top court passed the interim direction while hearing a petition filed by Kaajal Maheshwari, who challenged the Telangana High Court's refusal to grant interim relief.
The petitioner has challenged the decision to reduce the ESZ around KBR National Park to a width varying between 3 metres and 29.8 metres, arguing that such a limited buffer undermines the very purpose of an ESZ, which is meant to function as a "shock absorber" for protected areas.
The plea stated that KBR National Park, notified under Section 35 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, is an ecologically sensitive urban forest and a major green lung of Hyderabad. It further contends that the originally proposed ESZ of 25 to 35 metres was substantially curtailed to facilitate infrastructure projects, especially the Strategic Road Development Plan (SRDP).
The petitioner has challenged the Telangana High Court's interim order of March 31, 2026, contending that the High Court was informed that unregulated construction activity was continuing in and around the KBR National Park and the urgent need for intervention to avert irreversible ecological damage.
The High Court, however, instead of granting interim relief, adjourned the matter to May 5, directing the petitioners to conduct research on activities that are permissible, regulated, or restricted in the eco-sensitive zone.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I live near KBR and the traffic is terrible. SRDP is much needed. But cutting trees isn't the answer - we need flyovers and tunnels instead. The High Court asking petitioners to 'do research' while trees are being cut is ridiculous. Glad SC has common sense. Dhengyan baat nahi hai ye.
It's heartening to see the judiciary taking ecological concerns seriously. India has a rich biodiversity that needs protection. The concept of ESZ as a 'shock absorber' is scientifically sound - reducing it to 3 meters defeats the entire purpose. Good ruling by the Supreme Court.
A small step but important. The problem is systemic - we keep approving infrastructure projects without proper environmental impact assessment. KBR is an urban forest, once trees are gone, they won't come back for decades. SC needs to enforce ESZ strictly across all protected areas in India. #SaveKBR
Respectfully, I think both sides need to be heard. Yes, green spaces matter, but Hyderabad's infrastructure is crumbling. The SRDP is supposed to reduce travel time and pollution. Maybe a compromise - widen roads but with green cover compensation and wildlife corridors. Bal ane bal (talk & talk) is what we need, not just court orders.
👏👏 Well done Kaajal Maheshwari for filing this petition! It takes guts to take on state government and High Court. The High Court's response of asking to 'do research' while trees are being felled is peak bureaucratic nonsense. SC intervention shows our judicial system still works
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