On World Rock Day, Hyderabad NGO Celebrates a Major Conservation Win
Indiadailyupdate.com – July 13, 2026, marked a pivotal moment for the city’s rock preservation efforts as members of the Save the Rocks Society gathered at Khajaguda to commemorate a key achievement. The event, coinciding with World Rock Day, brought together around 15 activists who shared personal reflections on their years-long campaign to safeguard Hyderabad’s geological heritage. The celebration centered on the successful completion of fencing surrounding approximately 123 acres of the Fakhruddingutta rock formations—a site near the Financial District, which has long been under threat from urban expansion.
The accomplishment was the result of persistent collaboration between the NGO and government bodies, with critical support from the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Protection Agency. Ritwik Reddy, a society member and driving force behind the Fakhruddingutta initiative, emphasized the effort’s significance. “This fencing project has taken years of advocacy and coordination,” he said, highlighting the partnership with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and HYDRAA. However, he also noted that the work remains ongoing, with plans to secure protection for nearly 20 additional acres adjacent to the fenced area.
Collaboration Key to Conservation Breakthrough
Quader, the Society’s advisor, praised the HYDRAA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath for his role in bridging citizen groups with administrative action. “His openness to engaging with conservation advocates was instrumental in turning discussions into tangible results,” Quader stated in a
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. The NGO aims to expand the protected zone, ensuring the rock formations’ ecological and visual connections to the existing area are preserved. This long-term vision includes transforming the site into a publicly accessible space that highlights its geological, ecological, and cultural importance.
Parallel to the fencing project, a legal strategy has been launched. A public interest litigation case, initiated in 2019 to restore Fakhruddingutta to the Heritage List, is set for a hearing this month. The Society hopes this development will not only strengthen protections for the current area but also set a precedent for preserving other rock formations in Hyderabad facing development pressures.
Engaging the Public Through Education
In addition to its conservation work, the Save the Rocks Society hosts monthly rock walks on the third Sunday of each month. These events, designed to educate citizens about the unique geological features of the Deccan plateau, have become a vital tool in raising awareness. Participants walk through the landscapes, learning about their historical and ecological significance, and the NGO continues to use such initiatives to foster community involvement in heritage preservation.
