Actor Dia Mirza stands with Hyderabad students: Development at cost of biodiversity is destruction

Hyderabad-born actor and environmental activist Dia Mirza has thrown her weight behind students of Hyderabad Central University (HCU) protesting against the redevelopment of 400 acres of forested land in Gachibowli.

"Students are raising their voices for a future where nature thrives. Forests, not IT parks, offer young people a chance at a sustainable tomorrow," Mirza wrote in a social media post. "Development at the cost of biodiversity is destruction. Save Kancha Forest in Gachibowli, Hyderabad."

The Telangana government plans to construct an IT park on the disputed land, asserting that the project does not encroach upon university property. However, students argue that the move threatens the region’s rich flora and fauna, urging authorities to halt the auction and preserve the green space.

Tensions peaked on March 30 when bulldozers arrived to clear the land, sparking clashes between students and police. Reports of students being forcibly removed and assaulted have fueled a political firestorm, with the BRS and BJP slamming the Congress-led state government over the handling of the protests.

As student demonstrators announce an indefinite boycott of classes, the fight for Kancha Forest continues to intensify, with growing calls for sustainable development over commercial expansion.