Save KBR protest intensifies

Metro India News | Hyderabad  

Hyderabad’s ongoing confrontation over the Kasu Brahmananda Reddy (KBR) National Park intensified this week, as Save KBR volunteers continued their resistance against tree-felling linked to Rs 930-crore infrastructure project, even as police action and legal notices mounted against them. The movement, now widely circulating under the hashtag #SaveKBR, has become a flashpoint between environmental concerns and urban infrastructure expansion in the city.

On May 13, 2026, Banjara Hills police detained several volunteers, including activist Vijay Mallangi, around 3 a.m., following what activists described as a peaceful late-night protest aimed at preventing the cutting of trees. Police subsequently registered an FIR against around 10 to 15 volunteers.

Another FIR was reportedly filed on May 15 against individuals including Vijay, Durga Prasad, Vijay K., Ashok and Venkatesh, alleging that they obstructed officially approved work and intimidated contractors engaged in the operations. The detained volunteers are expected to respond to a police notice on May 16.

Activists claim that tree-felling activities are continuing despite a 2021 interim stay order by the Telangana High Court, and allege that operations are being carried out late at night to avoid public attention. The work is part of the Hyderabad City Innovative and Transformative Infrastructure (H-CITI) project, which includes flyovers and underpasses around the park.

According to activists, more than 1,900 trees are at risk under the current plan. They describe the ongoing removal as a “death by a thousand cuts” to Hyderabad’s “green lungs” — an urban forest they say plays a crucial role in cooling the city and absorbing carbon emissions.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) maintains that the infrastructure work is necessary to ease traffic congestion and that trees within the core Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) are not being affected. Activists, however, argue that both tree loss and increased traffic will worsen air quality and urban heat levels.

Volunteer Mitali Saxena said, “Development should not come at the cost of destroying our ecosystem and turning our city into a concrete jungle. We are not against the government. We are against decisions that harm nature and create bigger problems for the future. Flyovers have never truly solved traffic; better traffic management can, and it does not even require massive budgets. We need smarter solutions, not irreversible damage.”

Environmental activist Vijay Mallangi added, “It’s time for the people of Hyderabad to come together and stand against this.”

Despite the detentions, volunteers continue candlelight vigils and human-chain protests around the park. Videos shared by activists, including Mitali Saxena and others, are circulating widely online, drawing increasing public attention. The hashtag #SaveKBR has gained strong traction on Instagram, with growing citizen participation highlighting concerns over the loss of urban green cover.

The movement has vowed to continue its protests, framing the issue as one of ecological survival and long-term urban livability.