Hyderabad, April 2 -- The controversy over the proposed auction of 400 acres of land in Kancha Gachibowli has taken a new turn as the Central government has stepped in, declaring the Telangana government's land clearance efforts as "illegal."

The Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has now demanded an explanation from the state government, seeking both a factual report and an action taken report on the matter.

The intervention by MoEFCC follows representations made by Union ministers G Kishan Reddy, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, and several other Members of Parliament, who raised concerns regarding the environmental sensitivity of the region, particularly its proximity to the University of Hyderabad(UoH).

The area is kn...