On World Rock Day, this Hyderabad NGO marks a hard-won victory
The Society is now pursuing protection for close to 20 more acres of rock landscape adjoining the fenced zone — areas it describes as ecologically and visually tied to the protected stretch
On World Rock Day, July 13th, the 'Save the Rocks Society' celebrated the completion of fencing around approximately 123 acres of the Fakhruddingutta rock formations in Khajaguda, a significant achievement in Hyderabad's rock conservation efforts, facilitated by sustained engagement with government bodies and the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency. While this marks a major milestone, the Society continues to advocate for the protection of an additional 20 acres and envisions Fakhruddingutta as a public space for geological, ecological, and cultural engagement, rather than being simply cordoned off, and a Public Interest Litigation filed in 2019 seeking restoration of rock formations to the Heritage List is set for a hearing this month, potentially impacting broader conservation efforts for Hyderabad's Deccan plateau rock landscapes.
On World Rock Day, July 13th, the 'Save the Rocks Society' celebrated the completion of fencing around approximately 123 acres of the Fakhruddingutta rock formations in Khajaguda, a significant achievement in Hyderabad's rock conservation efforts, facilitated by sustained engagement with government bodies and the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency. While this marks a major milestone, the Society continues to advocate for the protection of an additional 20 acres and envisions Fakhruddingutta as a public space for geological, ecological, and cultural engagement, rather than being simply cordoned off, and a Public Interest Litigation filed in 2019 seeking restoration of rock formations to the Heritage List is set for a hearing this month, potentially impacting broader conservation efforts for Hyderabad's Deccan plateau rock landscapes.
On World Rock Day, July 13th, the 'Save the Rocks Society' celebrated the completion of fencing around approximately 123 acres of the Fakhruddingutta rock formations in Khajaguda, a significant achievement in Hyderabad's rock conservation efforts, facilitated by sustained engagement with government bodies and the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency. While this marks a major milestone, the Society continues to advocate for the protection of an additional 20 acres and envisions Fakhruddingutta as a public space for geological, ecological, and cultural engagement, rather than being simply cordoned off, and a Public Interest Litigation filed in 2019 seeking restoration of rock formations to the Heritage List is set for a hearing this month, potentially impacting broader conservation efforts for Hyderabad's Deccan plateau rock landscapes.
On July 13, World Rock Day, members of the ‘Save the Rocks Society’ gathered at Khajaguda to celebrate a milestone in the city's rock conservation movement. About 15 members assembled at the site, several of them recording voice bites on their years-long conservation journey.
The gathering marked one of the most significant rock-heritage conservation achievements in Hyderabad in recent years: the completion of fencing along the outer perimeter of roughly 123 acres of the Fakhruddingutta rock formations at Khajaguda, a stretch of land that sits just adjacent to the upmarket Financial District.
The fencing is the result of the Society's sustained engagement with government departments, as well as the intervention by the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency. Speaking to THE WEEK, the Society’s advisor Frauke Quader credited HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath for his willingness to engage with citizen groups and conservation advocates, calling it the reason the project moved "from discussion to implementation."
Members were quick to point out, however, that the work is far from over. The Society is now pursuing protection for close to 20 more acres of rock landscape adjoining the fenced zone — areas it describes as ecologically and visually tied to the protected stretch. The long-term vision is for Fakhruddingutta to become a protected public space where citizens can engage with its geological, ecological and cultural value, rather than a site simply cordoned off from public life.
Among those present at Monday's gathering was Ritwik Reddy, the Society member who has spearheaded the Fakhruddingutta effort. Reddy has worked on the issue of encroachment at the site for the past four years, coordinating closely with the Society, HYDRAA and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation to get the fencing project off the ground.
A parallel legal track is also authorised. A public interest litigation filed in 2019, seeking the restoration of previously notified rock formations to the Heritage List, is listed for a hearing this month. The Society hopes a favourable outcome will have implications beyond Fakhruddingutta, potentially strengthening protections for other rock formations across Hyderabad that continue to face development pressure.
The Society holds rock walks on the third Sunday of every month for those interested in exploring Hyderabad's distinctive rock landscapes. These walks, organisers say, have played a key role in raising awareness about the rare rock formations of the Deccan plateau, on which Hyderabad is built.