New Delhi, July 23 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday, while hearing the suo motu case of deforestation in the Kancha Gachibowli forest area in Telangana, said that while sustainable development is important, it does not mean that forests can be destroyed overnight with bulldozers.

A bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justices Vinod Chandran and Joymalya Bagchi criticised the Telangana government for destroying the Kancha Gachibowli forest land overnight.

"I am an advocate of sustainable development, but that does not mean employ 30 bulldozers overnight and destroy all forest land," the CJI said.

The apex court was hearing a suo motu case initiated in the wake of large-scale felling of trees by the state in the forest area of ...