University of Hyderabad 13-year-old resident’s open letter to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy

Expressing concerns that air quality will be rivalling Delhi’s if an environment like this vanishes, Janya Kaaveramma KC said these trees are lungs of Hyderabad

Hyderabad: In a heartfelt open letter to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on the State government’s decision to auction 400 acres of land in Kancha Gachibowli, a 13-year-old University of Hyderabad (UoH) resident raised a powerful question: Who in their right mind would willingly destroy their lung spaces.

Expressing concerns that air quality will be rivalling Delhi’s if an environment like this vanishes, Janya Kaaveramma KC said these trees are lungs of Hyderabad.

In the letter, she expressed puzzlement as to how the government, occupied with educated and experienced adults, was planning to auction 400 acres of biodiversity for money.

Stating that she had the privilege of living in the nature filled university, Janya said the idea of the forest being destroyed was heart wrenching.

“Growing up in this rapidly developing city, the university is the one haven of greenery still present in this land of concrete. Every day, I see so many rare birds, insects, and reptiles just while walking on the road. I do not want them to be on the roads just because they have nowhere else to go,” Janya said.

Referring to New York city, hub of the world’s finance and economy, that managed to thrive with 840 acres of forest land (Central Park) at its centre, Janya said if New York can, why cannot the State government protect and preserve its biodiversity.