A crucial judicial intervention has paused tree removal around Hyderabad’s Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park, after the Supreme Court directed that no felling be permitted within the wider 25–35 metre buffer surrounding the urban forest. The order, issued while examining a plea challenging the dilution of the park’s eco-sensitive zone, has renewed public attention on how infrastructure expansion continues to shape — and strain — the city’s remaining natural ecosystems.
The petition before the Court argues that the notified eco-sensitive zone (ESZ), whose width currently varies between just 3 and 29.8 metres, is far narrower than what ecological experts had originally recommended. Environmental groups and urban planners have long identified the park as one of Hyderabad’s most vital green lungs, offering temperature regulation, biodiversity protection and a respite from intensifying urban heat. They warn that shrinking the ESZ compromises the protective ring meant to shield the forest from noise, pollution and disruptive construction. According to case filings, proposals drafted more than a decade ago envisioned a consistent 25–35 metre buffer encompassing the green belt already developed by planning authorities. However, the petitioner contends that successive revisions gradually eroded this protection to accommodate major road expansion projects in the area. These reductions, the plea argues, were made without undertaking robust ecological studies or systematically addressing public objections, including thousands of citizen signatures opposing the change.
The dispute is unfolding at a time when Hyderabad is under pressure to expand key mobility corridors and road capacity. While officials maintain that such projects support long-term traffic management, sustainability experts note that building outward without safeguarding natural assets risks locking the city into high-carbon, high-maintenance patterns of mobility. They argue that prioritising wider green buffers and nature-based solutions could reduce heat exposure, improve air quality and enhance resilience in a rapidly densifying metropolitan region. The petitioner also raised concerns about unregulated construction near the park boundary, claiming that the lack of an adequate buffer is accelerating ecological fragmentation. Urban biodiversity researchers stress that thinning or inconsistent ESZs make it harder for small mammals, birds and pollinators to survive in shrinking habitats, particularly in a city where green cover has been steadily compromised by real estate pressure.
The Supreme Court’s interim stay signals that the judiciary is willing to scrutinise environmental trade-offs embedded in infrastructure decision-making. Legal observers say the next phase of hearings will likely examine whether the reduced zone meets statutory intent and whether local authorities complied with procedural obligations related to public consultation. For Hyderabad, the outcome holds broader implications. It could determine not only the future of KBR National Park’s green buffer but also how Indian cities balance rapid development with climate resilience. As the city confronts rising temperatures, flashier infrastructure may not compensate for the loss of ecosystems that quietly perform critical environmental functions. The Court’s next review will be watched closely by residents, planners and conservation groups seeking a model of urban growth that aligns with long-term ecological stability.
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