The Hyderabad dumpyard is being relocated from Jawahar Nagar to the Narsapur Forest, presented by GHMC as a 'gift' symbolizing the city's growth to both farmers and Mother Nature.

Who is impacted?

We are the farmers of Rythu Sangham Gummadidala Mandal, a collective that has been standing up for farmers’ rights for over three and a half decades. For generations, our families have tilled the lands here, growing vegetables, rice, and other essential crops that help feed Hyderabad and beyond. We send 15 to 20 tonnes of fresh vegetables every day to Bowenpally, Shapurnagar, Kukatpally, and Moosapet markets. Our parents and grandparents often tell us stories of how the Narsapur Forest was once a thick, green jungle alive with monkeys, deer, and countless birds. But now, the proposed 152-acre dump yard in Pyaranagar threatens not only our farms and fresh water sources, but also this precious forest. Many of us have children who run around in these fields, grandparents who walk to the forest temple for blessings, and livestock that depend on clean water. If the dump yard starts, all these will be deeply impacted by pollution and toxic waste.

 What is at stake?
Every day, 2,000 tonnes of waste are planned to be transported to this site(Imagine a large shopping mall like Inorbit or GVK One—where every store, hallway, and even the food court is stacked from floor to ceiling with trash. That mountain of garbage is roughly the amount of 2,000 tonnes of waste.). Even if trucks are covered with tarpaulin, we fear spills and leaks that will harm our fields and seep into the linked ponds, eventually contaminating Narsapur Lake. This lake, along with nearby ponds, sustains both wildlife and our crops. We celebrate festivals like Bathukamma and Sankranti around these water bodies, singing songs of nature’s bounty and go to the forest to see Palapitta(Bluejay) on dasara. If these places get polluted, we lose not just our livelihood but a part of our cultural and spiritual life. The monkeys, already stressed by deforestation, will move closer to the garbage and face diseases and accidents. Moreover, many of us collaborate with Acharya N.G. Ranga University on farming innovations. If our soils become toxic, these research projects that bring better seeds and methods to farmers all over the state will be lost. Most of all, we, the farmers, stand to lose our source of income, and the city stands to lose a critical supply of fresh produce.

Why is now the time to act?
On February 4, 2025, many of our members and villagers were suddenly placed under house arrest, while officials, backed by security forces, rushed 250 vehicles to start building the road to the dump yard. They claim there was “approval,”from 2015 but only three officials and three non-resident sarpanches were involved—none from our actual mandal. Since that day, we at Rythu Sangham Gummadidala have been protesting alongside fellow villagers to protect our land and this unique forest that serves as the lungs of our region. We have meeting all Government and elected officials to pay attention to the impact. Our fight is not just for us; it is for anyone who believes in keeping farmland fertile, forests alive, and water sources pure. Please join us in demanding a transparent review, an immediate halt to any construction, and an alternative solution for waste management that does not destroy our homes, farms, and wildlife. By signing this petition and spreading the word, you help us stand up to protect the future of our children, our forest, and our collective well-being.

“In what heartbreaking reality could a dump yard ever be called a ‘gift’ to our city’s last remaining forest?”